Grade the Orlando Magic's 2023 draft, one day after the draft

[Black and Blue]

I went A-/B+. While the names weren’t who a lot of us expected, they did target the team’s weakest spots which were the guard positions.

As much as the team likes to just sit on a zillion project players, they NEED to make decisions on some of these guys. The Chuma Okeke’s of the world are taking up space on a team that could use some solid contributors. I think as valuable as the injection of new talent is, carving out a path to success within the roster should be just as important.

I’ll add that I haven’t heard of a darling as hyped as Black in scout circles in a long time. I did a deep dive last night and it was crazy just how high on him everyone who works in the NBA is on him.

[bigdogdylan5]

Why are we grading? This is such a dumb exercise. It’s dumb after the NFL draft it’s dumb after the NBA draft. Can we wait for them to even play a couple games? Lmao

[89Magicfan]

Why are we grading? This is such a dumb exercise. It’s dumb after the NFL draft it’s dumb after the NBA draft. Can we wait for them to even play a couple games? Lmao

Because we can

[zaymon]

I'm gonna go C-. I'm ok with Black, but reaching for Howard and trading a high 2nd rounder away for a future 2nd rounder brings the grade down. Good thing we don't need both picks to hit or it'll be really depressing.

Similar sentiments. I went with a solid C though. I don't mind the second round trade as it just punts it down the road.

But i'm not too high on Black, I hope he proves me wrong. But I don't understand this front office watching this league become dependent on the 3-point shot and just constantly ignoring the need and instead going for length. Granted I like a lot of the rest of his game, his handling needs a little improving but it's good enough, decent passer, good defender, great around the rim and great at finishing with contact. I feel we've just been burned too many times to go with another guy where we say "If he can just develop his shot."

Howard is interesting. When I heard the pick I knew ZERO about him, and I still don't know much. But I was just watching highlights and I like what I see offensively. I know defensively he's supposed to be a liability but he looks like a future offensive spark plug. He's fluid, can create shots, pulls up from about anywhere. I think 11 seems like a reach because outside of scoring I don't know what else he brings. BUT...maybe he turns into something.

Certainly feels like the front office is saying "we have our front court, we need a backcourt, let's just take a chance and if ONE of these guys turns out we'll have been successful."

There is 3 point shot and there is size and defense. Look at Denver. Starting AG who was 27% from 3 his first year. Crucial player from the bench Bruce Brown 25% from 3 his first year.
Franz will be good shooter. Paolo could be mediocre shooter but he is still not the elite defender we need.
I think we could think of Black as AG point of attack type of defender. Is it possible he makes 35 % of his 3s someday ? I guess its realistic outcome. Black is also better driver and passer if we make further comparison to AG.

[jonbob17]

Black A- I like him. I think he was the best player on the board. Only ding here is we let Portland out tank us and their lottery balls(which should have been ours) were luckier...it could have been Scoot....but I do really like Black, and think he is going to fit in with this team very well.

Howard B- I haven't liked him because of the nonexistent rebounding. The lack of defense. I think there were BPA on the board. I think the Magic were going to take Cason until OKC jumped us. I know another guard may not have made sense to many, but I think that Cason is that good, and Suggs, Black, Wallace would have been a fierce threesome at the two guard spots. I think this may be a rare example of the Magic letting the cat get out of the bag. OKC paid a very stiff price to move up, and Dallas knew they could still get their guy Lively, who I also had as a better player available, if Dallas moved down much further that likely would not have happened.

At the same time, everybody was hot and heavy for shooting...for good reason, we need it, and Howard was the best shooter on the board that was a wing. the other shooters were just SGs. Howard was the best shooter on the board that fit our team, and while he isn't my favorite prospect, i think he is going to end up being a good rotation player, but he is going to take some time on the defensive side.

Pick 36 it's an F. In fact it is a Zero..pick 36 has value. There were players that are going to be rotation players on good teams available. Instead we found out the value of pick 36 in terms of Dollars. A 2nd round pick in 2030 from Milwaukee is about as little value as you can get. So it was all about the $...and it's an embarrassment...and i don't understand it, and it drives me crazy almost every year. None of the crap FA they sign to the end of the bench ever do anything.

[UCFJayBird]

I'm gonna go C-. I'm ok with Black, but reaching for Howard and trading a high 2nd rounder away for a future 2nd rounder brings the grade down. Good thing we don't need both picks to hit or it'll be really depressing.

Similar sentiments. I went with a solid C though. I don't mind the second round trade as it just punts it down the road.

But i'm not too high on Black, I hope he proves me wrong. But I don't understand this front office watching this league become dependent on the 3-point shot and just constantly ignoring the need and instead going for length. Granted I like a lot of the rest of his game, his handling needs a little improving but it's good enough, decent passer, good defender, great around the rim and great at finishing with contact. I feel we've just been burned too many times to go with another guy where we say "If he can just develop his shot."

Howard is interesting. When I heard the pick I knew ZERO about him, and I still don't know much. But I was just watching highlights and I like what I see offensively. I know defensively he's supposed to be a liability but he looks like a future offensive spark plug. He's fluid, can create shots, pulls up from about anywhere. I think 11 seems like a reach because outside of scoring I don't know what else he brings. BUT...maybe he turns into something.

Certainly feels like the front office is saying "we have our front court, we need a backcourt, let's just take a chance and if ONE of these guys turns out we'll have been successful."

There is 3 point shot and there is size and defense. Look at Denver. Starting AG who was 27% from 3 his first year. Crucial player from the bench Bruce Brown 25% from 3 his first year.
Franz will be good shooter. Paolo could be mediocre shooter but he is still not the elite defender we need.
I think we could think of Black as AG point of attack type of defender. Is it possible he makes 35 % of his 3s someday ? I guess its realistic outcome. Black is also better driver and passer if we make further comparison to AG.

Sure, but overall Denver shot the 4th highest percentage from 3 (though they were in the bottom 10 of attempts). I'm not saying every team should go after shooters, but you need at least a couple guys on the floor that can hit it consistently, and the Magic have a couple of guys that are on the cusp of that, but they're not there yet. And the Magic haven't been there in a long time. Would be nice if we could turn that page and find a few guys who teams are afraid to leave wide open, gives Paolo and Franz more space to operate.

[basketballRob]

When's the news conference?

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[eyriq]

Turning off my coping mechanism/rose colored glasses for a second

Black: A | He's got rising star potential, that free throw rate is 99th percentile stuff, defense is really good, and his athleticism is on the plus side. I preferred to trade up and get Ausar once Ausar went 5th but I think he fits in the conversation as a similar archetype to the Thompson twins.

Jett: B- | He ticks a lot of boxes and I get the idea. Size, shooting, two level scoring. I preferred Keyonte though and I might as well use that lame preference to contextualize a grade. I think he's got quality starter potential, though with Suggs and Franz already on the team his path to a starting role is unclear. The same critique is applicable to most options available at 11 though.

Potential for hype: A+ | I LOVE how easy it is to get excited about these guys. So much stylistic and fit synergy between them and our frontcourt.

[IllMagic04]

I went with a D. At least we did get a shooter

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[Skin]

I voted C.

Would've wanted them to be more aggressive on the trade front. A trade into the Top 3, a trade down to recoup value, or a trade for proven talent - Porzingis, Simons, Vassell or something more exciting.

Weltman wants people to think he is some kind of genius. Saying stuff like "the big secret on Jett is he played hurt for most of the year". Oh like he's the only one who knew that. lol. He reached and tried to justify himself.

I don't hate the draft because AB was not a reach and while Jett was, I still like him.

[basketballRob]

I'll withhold my grade until the end of theseason.

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[RookieStar]

Why are we grading? This is such a dumb exercise. It’s dumb after the NFL draft it’s dumb after the NBA draft. Can we wait for them to even play a couple games? Lmao

You forgot this is the Magic board?

We like to PANAC!! Especially after a draft. It's basically tradition for us.

[RookieStar]

BLACK - B+ - I get he is/was the BPA and worthy of TOP-5 consideration. In fact, personally, I think that if not for the fact the twins were already hyped for 2 years or more already, Black could have replaced their spots based on his play alone. The only reason I did not grade this higher is that my personal fave at those available was Hendricks because he fits a need more than Black

HOWARD - C - I dunno. I admit this dude was in the top-10 before suddenly dropping off like a cliff. I didn't put attention to MICH that much or when I did I was looking at Hunter Dickinson more. No one can deny he is a 3pt shooter though.

[bigdogdylan5]

Why are we grading? This is such a dumb exercise. It’s dumb after the NFL draft it’s dumb after the NBA draft. Can we wait for them to even play a couple games? Lmao

You forgot this is the Magic board?

We like to PANAC!! Especially after a draft. It's basically tradition for us.

I should know this. I just thought after two straight really good drafts they might have earned a little more benefit of the doubt lol

[RookieStar]

Why are we grading? This is such a dumb exercise. It’s dumb after the NFL draft it’s dumb after the NBA draft. Can we wait for them to even play a couple games? Lmao

You forgot this is the Magic board?

We like to PANAC!! Especially after a draft. It's basically tradition for us.

I should know this. I just thought after two straight really good drafts they might have earned a little more benefit of the doubt lol

oh no... that would mean the end of the world.

I mean if you were here during the game threads of our Dwight-era, even if the refs were blatantly favoring us like the Heat vs Dal finals, we would still find a way to complain. If the game thread didn't have complaints, you would've thought the game was cancelled or something.

[bigdogdylan5]

I was around back then but much younger lol. I guess the complaints just evolve. I was probably apart of that too I cursed Duhon’s name many times. That was so long ago I feel old thanks man!

[drsd]

Well, this is averaging to "decent passing grade". That sounds correct to me.

[drsd]

Potential for hype: A+ | I LOVE how easy it is to get excited about these guys. So much stylistic and fit synergy between them and our frontcourt.

Right now the fans of 30 teams is so excited. I am one of those fans.

[Ralof]

A+ if they give four year contract to Fultz

if not F-