Cole World: Orlando Magic Select Cole Anthony at #15

[Ducklett]

I think if he had not come back from his injury and looked so bad, the scouts would have seen him differently.

[Skin]

Read on Twitter

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Everyone just sleep for now. Wake up and give thr kid a chance. Let's hype him up with all the Amway lockdown, Jacuzzi talks and whatnot. Then when he cant get off the bench lets start hating him then.

Ain't happening. Cole seems like a highly motivated and high-motor guy that just won't stop working until he makes it. Coach Cliff said the exact same thing and praised him in his post draft interview.
It looks like the Magic FO and coaching staff did their homework and thorough research on the guy, coach Cliff has a connection with NC coach.
Cole will prove all his doubters wrong.

[RookieStar]

Everyone just sleep for now. Wake up and give thr kid a chance. Let's hype him up with all the Amway lockdown, Jacuzzi talks and whatnot. Then when he cant get off the bench lets start hating him then.

Ain't happening. Cole seems like a highly motivated and high-motor guy that just won't stop working until he makes it. Coach Cliff said the exact same thing and praised him in his post draft interview.
It looks like the Magic FO and coaching staff did their homework and thorough research on the guy, coach Cliff has a connection with NC coach.
Cole will prove all his doubters wrong.

As a lifelong Magic fan : I sure hope you are right.

As an experienced Magic fan : Ssuuùuuurreeee

[RookieStar]

Everyone just sleep for now. Wake up and give thr kid a chance. Let's hype him up with all the Amway lockdown, Jacuzzi talks and whatnot. Then when he cant get off the bench lets start hating him then.

Ain't happening. Cole seems like a highly motivated and high-motor guy that just won't stop working until he makes it. Coach Cliff said the exact same thing and praised him in his post draft interview.
It looks like the Magic FO and coaching staff did their homework and thorough research on the guy, coach Cliff has a connection with NC coach.
Cole will prove all his doubters wrong.

As a lifelong Magic fan : I sure hope you are right.

As an experienced Magic fan : Ssuuùuuurreeee

[MaKiaVeLi7]

I think if he had not come back from his injury and looked so bad, the scouts would have seen him differently.

Also playing on a bad team where he was the only offensive threat and all opposing defenses focused on stopping him didn't help with his FG%. I mean, don't look too much into it, given all the circumstances including Cole missing 2-3 months with knee injury, I guess he's vastly underrated and will surprise many NBA analysts and fans with his play.
I had a gut feeling we should draft him, I am extremely happy he brings hope to our team in desperate need of shooting, shot-creating and scoring.

[OrlandoMagic]

So Okeke Cole and Isaac.

[Ducklett]

Luck has to break our way eventually, why not. Lets go Magic.

Fire our Front office tho

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Everyone just sleep for now. Wake up and give thr kid a chance. Let's hype him up with all the Amway lockdown, Jacuzzi talks and whatnot. Then when he cant get off the bench lets start hating him then.

Ain't happening. Cole seems like a highly motivated and high-motor guy that just won't stop working until he makes it. Coach Cliff said the exact same thing and praised him in his post draft interview.
It looks like the Magic FO and coaching staff did their homework and thorough research on the guy, coach Cliff has a connection with NC coach.
Cole will prove all his doubters wrong.

As a lifelong Magic fan : I sure hope you are right.

As an experienced Magic fan : Ssuuùuuurreeee

I am not delusional. There will be massive hate and hordes of haters, at least in the beginning.
He's a really good fit, the guy has all the tools and the right mental approach to succeed in the NBA.
Also, he is head and shoulders in front of many others from this year's draft class in terms of mental preparedness for what's to come in his rookie NBA season. This year won't be business as usual. Rookies will have even less time and opportunities to get accustomed to the next level, almost no training camp or time to get used to their new surroundings and professional teammates.
cole has a significant advantage over all the rookies. He has a solid basketball background and his father is a former NBA star. Cole studied the NBA and the game since he was a child and always had one single path forward, mainly becoming an NBA player.
He'll be ready for the challenge and we need him to be.
Actually, I am looking for the December NBA reboot with optimism for the first name in many seasons.

[RookieStar]

Like I said, I also hioe you are right. In fact, I woukd probably prefer him to start over Fourney if he shows he got it right away.

But we shall see especially with all of ua hooing we make trades to.improve our roster.

[yoyojw17]

I think if he had not come back from his injury and looked so bad, the scouts would have seen him differently.

I thought the same thing. If he went the Garland route and just recovered for the rest of the year.... you would have seen him as a top 6 pick... but sadly ...... he is a competitor and decided to come back... played injured and things plummeted. But that was lucky for us in the end as he will be coming onto an NBA team... which are less devoid of talent than what he had in NC.

[penny_nz]

On this pick I have no expectation and as such can be excited and happy about an offensive focussed guard that will hopefully bring some excitement and scoring to our roster, welcome!

[Bensational]

If Klay is out, I wonder if they take a medical exemption (or are offered a reduction on the cap that applies to their luxury tax bill) and then consider using the trade exception? I could see them taking someone like Oubre, Bogdanovic... Fournier? What would we get in return though?

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Like I said, I also hioe you are right. In fact, I woukd probably prefer him to start over Fourney if he shows he got it right away.

But we shall see especially with all of ua hooing we make trades to.improve our roster.

Sounds good, but not probable. Unfortunately, Fournier won't be benched so easily or quickly at the beginning of his contract year.
In order for that to happen Frenchie should have a horrible start and Cole would have to come out with 250 mph gunza-blazin' style right from game 1 and sustain that for at least 10 games, and even then it would all depend on coach Cliff.
Anyway, I believe Cole is going to have a great impact on our bench play and solid minutes with the starters and Fultz.

[MaKiaVeLi7]

If Klay is out, I wonder if they take a medical exemption (or are offered a reduction on the cap that applies to their luxury tax bill) and then consider using the trade exception? I could see them taking someone like Oubre, Bogdanovic... Fournier? What would we get in return though?

Don't expect much.
Me personally...oooh boy, I would be happy with him off the roster and his 17 million Henny contract off the books.
If we get something of any value in return is a bonus.

[Knightro]

Candidly, I didn't like Cole Anthony at all in the pre-draft process. I had him 30th on my own big board. But he's a member of the Magic now and here's what I saw when I watched him play.

Positives
-I think his jumper is actually the best part of his game despite the percentages. He has a really nice quick release, both off the catch and off the dribble.

-Good athleticism for a scoring guard, especially when he can load up. Anthony also knows how to use his craftiness and used that to get to the line at a decent rate as well.

-Ball handling isn't Kyrie Irving level crazy or anything, but it's more than good enough to get to his spots.

-He's not big, but he's got good strength and plenty of lateral quickness defensively. I actually thought he flashed some decent BBIQ as a team defender.

Negatives
-He was VERY trigger happy at North Carolina and forced up a ton of low-percentage shots. You hope this was due to a lack of capable teammates, but I don't think it can be written off so easily.

-Despite being athletic and crafty, Anthony *really* struggled to finish in traffic this past year.

-Doesn't see the court well enough to be a true PG. Anthony had issues with telegraphing passes and just not seeing easy assist opportunities.

-Tries hard, but his short wingspan certainly limits his overall effectiveness as a defender. Occasionally would get caught ball watching or caught flat footed, but not as often as you'd think for a young player.

Overall
Right now I think Cole Anthony is more of a shooting guard in a point guard's body than a point guard. I just do not see the natural court vision or passing skill right now for Anthony to be a player tasked with leading an offense.

That said...

He had some legitimately monster games in his freshman year.

34 pts 5 ast v. Notre Dame, 12-24 FG
28 pts 7 ast v. Wake, 8-14 FG
25 pts 7 ast at Syracuse, 8-13 FG

There's actual potential for him to be a three-level scorer if he can improve his finishing (a more spaced court could help here) and overhaul his shot selection. He's not a bad shooter, but he's definitely a bad shot taker.

There's a very wide range of outcomes here.

If *everything* goes right, he could be a Jamal Murray type of shotmaker at the lead guard spot. If it doesn't go right, he could end up as more of Austin Rivers, an undersized shooting guard who isn't really someone you want starting.

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Candidly, I didn't like Cole Anthony at all in the pre-draft process. I had him 30th on my own big board. But he's a member of the Magic now and here's what I saw when I watched him play.

Positives
-I think his jumper is actually the best part of his game despite the percentages. He has a really nice quick release, both off the catch and off the dribble.

-Good athleticism for a scoring guard, especially when he can load up. Anthony also knows how to use his craftiness and used that to get to the line at a decent rate as well.

-Ball handling isn't Kyrie Irving level crazy or anything, but it's more than good enough to get to his spots.

-He's not big, but he's got good strength and plenty of lateral quickness defensively. I actually thought he flashed some decent BBIQ as a team defender.

Negatives
-He was VERY trigger happy at North Carolina and forced up a ton of low-percentage shots. You hope this was due to a lack of capable teammates, but I don't think it can be written off so easily.

-Despite being athletic and crafty, Anthony *really* struggled to finish in traffic this past year.

-Doesn't see the court well enough to be a true PG. Anthony had issues with telegraphing passes and just not seeing easy assist opportunities.

-Tries hard, but his short wingspan certainly limits his overall effectiveness as a defender. Occasionally would get caught ball watching or caught flat footed, but not as often as you'd think for a young player.

Overall
Right now I think Cole Anthony is more of a shooting guard in a point guard's body than a point guard. I just do not see the natural court vision or passing skill right now for Anthony to be a player tasked with leading an offense.

That said...

He had some legitimately monster games in his freshman year.

34 pts 5 ast v. Notre Dame, 12-24 FG
28 pts 7 ast v. Wake, 8-14 FG
25 pts 7 ast at Syracuse, 8-13 FG

There's actual potential for him to be a three-level scorer if he can improve his finishing (a more spaced court could help here) and overhaul his shot selection. He's not a bad shooter, but he's definitely a bad shot taker.

There's a very wide range of outcomes here.

If *everything* goes right, he could be a Jamal Murray type of shotmaker at the lead guard spot. If it doesn't go right, he could end up as more of Austin Rivers, an undersized shooting guard who isn't really someone you want starting.

I tend to agree with your analysis.
In my opinion, most of his current flaws are due to young age and inexperience. All of them should be easily fixed by Clifford's staff if Cole has the right mindset and work ethic, all clues point to that. Having injury-free rookie season and some quality minutes and games under his belt will help in fixing that as well, also Magic's roster ain't nothing like his former NC teammates.

[rusoopE]

After Kira and nasmith were picked I was glad we selected anthony. Glad we pass on barret so much

[RookieStar]

Alright, now that Ive had time to think it over... with our draft spot and the players picked before us... I would say not bad.

I think inwas really hoping for an Evan replacement so i got disappointed in Cole BUT i think he should be the backup/first guard off the bench. He can play alongside Fultz or be the PG for Fournier or MCW. Our bench really lacks scoring aside from Ross so I think he will fo some good there

[drsd]

If Cliff can get him under control and mold him into Jameer Nelson 2.0 as some scouting profiles have labeled him ...

Fixed.

Seriously, in Nelson's rookie year he played some solid backup minutes and in year two was a contender for sixth-man of the year.
If Anthony has Nelson's backup years for two years as he establishes in the NBA, then this is a value pick.

As for starting in year-3, well that is 2022/23. I cannot look that far to the future.


..