Magic Mops wrote:Xatticus wrote:Knightro wrote:Latest Mock from Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. A double dose of Jalen.
1. Cunningham
2. Mobley
3. Orlando Magic - Jalen Green, G, G-League Ignite
4. Suggs
5. Kuminga
6. Mitchell
7. K. Johnson
8. Orlando Magic - Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
9. Wagner
10. Kispert
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft
G: Fultz, Anthony, MCW
G: Green, Hampton, Harris
F: Okeke, Ross, Bacon, Brazdeikis
F: Isaac, Johnson, Wagner
C: WCJ, Bamba, Hall
^ looking at something like this without any traded veterans.
I'd be fairly disappointed with this outcome. I prefer Suggs to Green. I get why people like Green, but I'd rather have a guy with playmaking potential. I'm a bit concerned with Suggs' ability to shoot, but we need someone that can orchestrate an offense. If we take Green over Suggs, then I'd definitely want someone with a basketball brain with that second pick.
I'd avoid Johnson regardless. He was a problem for a bad Duke team and left the school when Krzyzewski started cutting his minutes. If you believe the reports, he didn't get along with anyone. He is a willing passer, but he turns the ball over a ton. His vision is very ordinary and his accuracy and decision-making are lacking. He can't shoot right now. His highlights are pretty much all transition plays. Everyone looks better in transition. He struggles to do anything offensively in the halfcourt if he can't get to the basket and he won't be able to get to the basket in the NBA. There is some talent there, but he isn't very good right now and I'm not optimistic that he will realize the potential he has.
If the Magic draft Green who do you want with the second pick?
Probably Giddey.
There are three guys with basketball brains that might be available in that range and Giddey is the best fit with Green. The other two are Sengun and Barnes.
You are going to have to wait out Giddey's physical development. If that comes along, he could be really special. If it doesn't, then he might end up as a Satoransky type. He easily has the best vision in this draft. I don't think he'll ever be a plus athlete, but he could benefit greatly just from getting stronger. You can see that his lack of strength makes some skip passes difficult for him. Added strength would also help his shot. He also needs to fix his transition from dribble to shot. He'd be deadly if he could shoot off the bounce.
The best offensive players are the ones that can read the help defense as soon as it starts to move and I think Giddey will develop that as long as he gets the opportunity to run an offense. We are desperate for someone to run ours. Green doesn't do that. Green is a shooter and finisher. He can be the guy that takes the tough shots when the offense breaks down or at the end of games, but you need someone that can get your offensive circulation going. I love that Giddey is selfless and always looking to set up teammates first.
That's still not my preference though. I'd rather have Suggs and Sengun, I think. I just think that pick and roll could be deadly and would be a lot of fun to watch. If we landed Sengun, I'd try to move WCJ to Charlotte for their 1st-round pick. WCJ could plug a huge hole for them.