If the Magic get a top draft pick, who should they take?

[OrlChamps2030]

Shabazz would be a waste of a lottery pick. He might be okay one day but he needs to realize that he's not that good right now and has to work on his game immensely.

Look at *how* he scores, he leaks out in transition every time the ball goes up and crashes the offensive glass as aggressively as possible instead of running back on defense. Thus far he hasn't shown that he can pass, dribble or defend well at the college level. He's averaging less than an assist per game, how does a wing do that?

Shabazz isn't good enough for a LOTTERY PICK?! Book marked... talk to ya in a year Ben McLemore can't pass or dribble yet either. C'mon man..the kid is 19 years.

Noel is going to be the first pick. I'd love to see a defensive anchor next to Vuc - but I'm just nervous about using the #1 pick on Noel. McLemore, Shabazz, and Smart are guys I would love to have on this team for the future if we were in the top 3 or top 5. Burke and Bennett are always very intriguing prospects.

[OrlChamps2030]

I would likewise strongly consider trading down if its for a highly or completely unprotected pick in 2014. Imagine if we could trade #1 or 2 with NY's 2014 1st rounder for #7, take Marcus Smart, and also take that lotto teams 2014 pick unprotected.

Bahahaha, an unprotected 2014 draft pick. That's a good one.

[BaunceyChillups]

Shabazz would be a waste of a lottery pick. He might be okay one day but he needs to realize that he's not that good right now and has to work on his game immensely.

Look at *how* he scores, he leaks out in transition every time the ball goes up and crashes the offensive glass as aggressively as possible instead of running back on defense. Thus far he hasn't shown that he can pass, dribble or defend well at the college level. He's averaging less than an assist per game, how does a wing do that?

Shabazz isn't good enough for a LOTTERY PICK?! Book marked... talk to ya in a year Ben McLemore can't pass or dribble yet either. C'mon man..the kid is 19 years.

Noel is going to be the first pick. I'd love to see a defensive anchor next to Vuc - but I'm just nervous about using the #1 pick on Noel. McLemore, Shabazz, and Smart are guys I would love to have on this team for the future if we were in the top 3 or top 5. Burke and Bennett are always very intriguing prospects.

McLemore is getting hype because he's an ultra-efficient shooter with great athleticism who's a willing passer and has defensive potential. He might just be Arron Afflalo with better hops in the NBA but that's still something. Comparatively Shabazz hasn't demonstrated anything that makes me think he'll be good in the NBA, he's an okay three point shooter I guess.

[MJallday59]

Shabazz = Marshon Brooks with slightly higher upside.

[OrlandoMagician]

McLemore. Pure shooter. Lots of upside.

[Reverse_Angle]

McLemore is going to be a franchise caliber player. For some reason though, I think we will end up drafting Shabazz, so I voted for him.

[dsg2021]

I would likewise strongly consider trading down if its for a highly or completely unprotected pick in 2014. Imagine if we could trade #1 or 2 with NY's 2014 1st rounder for #7, take Marcus Smart, and also take that lotto teams 2014 pick unprotected.

Bahahaha, an unprotected 2014 draft pick. That's a good one.

Yea, Im being optimistic as hell. But there's very real and very recent precedent in lotto picks being traded with only top 5-ish protections which are still gold mine picks. I probably added the optimistic part of there being an unprotected pick in assuming that such a deal would have a lot of Magic assets, like JJ or Afflalo, with multiple future 1sts, etc etc.

I was thinking of something a little ridiculous as well. It has shades of what Otis pulled off in seemingly letting Gortat go to Dallas but instead signing Dallas' Bass and matching Gortat away from Dallas anyways. What if the Magic really gambled and traded assets for a 2-14 or 2-10 2014 protected lotto pick with decreasing penalties over seasons or a surrender of a non-lottery pick in the future. This would be most specifically and preferably, from one or two of the 5 reasonably projectable worst 2014 teams where the chance at #1 is decent and not too low. The effect of this trade would likely be lost Magic assets for a non-lottery pick, but the gamble is in a bump up to their chance at the #1 2014 pick to something like 20-50% chance. Go big or go home?

[OrlandoMagician]

If we draft Smart, can we expect to trade Jameer? I know we don't have much PG depth, but top 5 picks have to be starters.

[fendilim]

I dont get the love for McLemore. From the highlights i've watched, his shots comes off screens. I'd be more interested if he cant score off the dribble

[craig01]

Marcus Smart or Ben McLemore. I lean towards Smart at the moment.

Smart is one of those players that is always in the middle of everything.

McLemore is explosive, I don't think either one is worthy of #1 status, but this draft doesn't have one.

I would prefer Smart if the draft were held today.

[magicaroni]

Honestly, Marcus Smart is a nice player, but he'll never be more than Rodney Stuckey in the NBA. This draft is weak, and there are only a few guys with star potential in this draft. My top 3 are:

1) Ben McLemore
2) Shabazz Mohammed
3) Anthony Bennett

Honestly, I think Bennett is the most NBA ready prospect in the draft and would really set up our interior very weel for the future. If we snagged Bennett this year, and then drafted an all-around talent like Wiggins, Parker, Harrison, or Randle the following year, we would be setup for a very nice future.

My vote is Bennett.

[Def Swami]

I dont get the love for McLemore. From the highlights i've watched, his shots comes off screens. I'd be more interested if he cant score off the dribble

My issue with McLemore as well. I think he can be a very good 2 guard in the NBA. Maybe even have a Ray Allen-esque career. But, I just don't think he affects the game in more than one or two ways. Shabazz is more of the assassin that can get his own shot and come off screens. He's a more complete offensive player imo. But, he lacks the explosiveness and athleticism that you'd want in your 2 guard.

If Shabazz and McLemore were cross-bred to make Shaben McLehammad, I think we'd have a winner.

[G-Heel]

We gotta take Noel if he's available.

Last year, when Lillard was projecting to be mid-1st, I said he's going to be good and not many agreed with me. When Drummond slipped on the draft board, I said some teams will regret it. I said he might turn into a better player long-term than Lillard and people dismissed it. Well, Lillard has been the best rookie and Drummond showed that he may become the best player from this draft.

None of my prediction are farfetched I'll admit. So, my non-farfetched prediction for this year draft is that Noel will be the best player from this draft and Smart will be a good role player. Smart has potential to be a borderline all star, but Noel has the the potential to be a dominating defensive presence so you know who I'm picking.

[drsd]

We gotta take Noel if he's available.

Noel at PF would make up for Vučević's defensive flaws at C. Those two would make a nice core. And having Nicholson off of the bench really opens up his potential for the future.

..

[magicaroni]

Noel is a great help defender, but he is weak and is going to get pushed around at the next level. He's never going to be a good offensive player, and at best he's going to be Ben Wallace with less muscle.

I'd rather have Bennett.

[Malik Starks]

If you get the #1 pick, you take the guy with most potential, Noel is far and away that guy. He's also pretty low risk and would greatly enhance the Magic's horrible interior D right away if nothing else. Other than that, the only other guy I really like is Smart.

[G-Heel]

Noel is a great help defender, but he is weak and is going to get pushed around at the next level. He's never going to be a good offensive player, and at best he's going to be Ben Wallace with less muscle.

I'd rather have Bennett.

Tall, skinny guys being weak at a young age is nothing surprising. Once he fill out that frame, he'll be fine.

Bennett is a 6'6 PF, you can't be serious. What's his ceiling? Millsap? I'd rather take a "Ben Wallace" than Paul Millsap.

[SloNick Russia]

I trust Hennigan, he has shown that he is drafting based on character and work ethic, that how deep you have to dig, there are lots of players with potential, but talent along is not enougth. There is no clear #1 pick in this year draft, if we land one we should look at all options, trading down might be the best move in this case.

[Leissak]

If we can't get Muhammad/McLemore/Smart, we should trade the pick away.

[drsd]

I trust Hennigan, he has shown that he is drafting based on character and work ethic, that how deep you have to dig, there are lots of players with potential, but talent along is not enougth. There is no clear #1 pick in this year draft, if we land one we should look at all options, trading down might be the best move in this case.

Generally it is a horrible idea to trade down. But in this draft there are four very good players, which are then followed by three or four good players. Look at a team like Sacramento. If they believe in DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans as a core, then a flip of 1sts with a Fredette-type is reasonable.

Sacramento gets Noel or Muhammad to solidify their foward's core.

Orlando gets either Marcus Smart or Michael Carter-Williams, and Jimmer Fredette. Such a tandem ensures the starter and backup PG, in a slow development, as Nelson's shift to the next avenues of his life.

..

If Trey Burke is the PG target, then Redick can be flipped for a mid teens pick and the Sacramento selection could be for Alex Len as a project center to bang with Vučević on the practice squad.