Please click the hyperlinked news sources to view their full grades.
Or just expand the spoiler tags to view our grade.
And now, the "draft grades" in no particular order....
SB NATION
Grade: A+
Spoiler:
Banchero has been our No. 1 prospect all year because he’s the best shot creator in the class at 6’10, 250 pounds. Banchero’s ball handling and live dribble passing ability is remarkable for someone with his frame. He’s also an excellent scorer who can finish with strength when he gets downhill, drain midrange shots from the elbow after creating space with his jab step, and bury defenders in the post with his power and touch. Banchero is only an average three-point shooter right now, and he’s not an elite run-and-jump athlete. There will be questions about his defensive translation, but his size and feel for the game should help him be at least average on that end. Where Banchero is really special is with the ball in his hands creating shots for himself and his teammate. The Magic have a nice stable of guards, but they don’t have anyone who profiles as the primary option on a team that can make a deep playoff run. Banchero can be that guy. After months of rumors that Jabari Smith Jr. would go No. 1 to Orlando, I think the Magic eventually landed on the right pick.
BLEACHER REPORT
Grade: A
Spoiler:
The draft’s first curveball comes with the first overall pick, as the Magic select Paolo Banchero—and not the oft-mocked Jabari Smith. For a team with such an obvious need for an offensive focal point (Orlando didn’t have anyone average 17 points), this is a swing for the fences and quite possibly a moon-shot blast.
If this draft class produces a scoring champ, Banchero is the odds-on favorite. His offensive bag bursts at the seams with a drool-worthy blend of power, finesse, shot-making, finishing and an unfair amount of passing for a 6’10”, 250-pounder.
Now, can he defend at the NBA level? Physically, he’ll be good to go from his first opening tip, but at Duke, his defensive motor sputtered like a broken-down pickup. A good coaching staff can correct that flaw, though, as well as improve his sometimes overly ambitious shot selection.
From my viewpoint, Banchero is the best fit and the best prospect in the class. Job very well done, Magic.
If this draft class produces a scoring champ, Banchero is the odds-on favorite. His offensive bag bursts at the seams with a drool-worthy blend of power, finesse, shot-making, finishing and an unfair amount of passing for a 6’10”, 250-pounder.
Now, can he defend at the NBA level? Physically, he’ll be good to go from his first opening tip, but at Duke, his defensive motor sputtered like a broken-down pickup. A good coaching staff can correct that flaw, though, as well as improve his sometimes overly ambitious shot selection.
From my viewpoint, Banchero is the best fit and the best prospect in the class. Job very well done, Magic.
THE RINGER
Grade: A+
Spoiler:
The 2022 NBA draft just started with a stunner: Paolo Banchero—and not Jabari Smith Jr.—is headed to the Magic. I reported weeks ago that it wasn’t a certainty that Smith would go first, but it certainly seemed to be heading in that direction. Still, this is the right choice. The Duke freshman was no. 1 on my big board all spring and has the upside to blossom into a star in Orlando. Of all the top picks, Banchero is the most ready to get buckets as soon as he steps foot on an NBA floor. Orlando desperately needed a lead scorer to take the reins from its young core. Now it has its leading man.
FOX SPORTS
Grade: A
Spoiler:
Before we analyze any talent, let’s make one thing clear: the first name is made for him to be a big star in the NBA because it is so uniquely identifiable. A huge part of what makes Banchero so special is his combination of speed and comfort level to embrace contact. His ball-handling skills are those of a guard, and Banchero’s knack for being able to change the pace in transition is special for a player at his stature. He possesses outstanding body control and can also serve as a facilitator in an offense. His passing ability is underrated.
The biggest issue with Banchero is the perimeter shot. If he shows he can consistently stretch the floor and hit threes in the NBA, he could change a franchise. His 34 percent mark from deep is the area in question, but Banchero carries so many more pros than that con. He can be a go-to star for a team in the NBA.
The Magic are in need of everything. Orlando has an All-NBA Rookie Team member in Franz Wagner, but beyond him, the Magic just need to find quality NBA players. So, while this may come as a surprise, the Magic picked the most NBA ready player in this draft class with the selection of Banchero. Grade: A
By the numbers: Averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48% from the floor. Becomes fifth Duke player to be drafted No. 1 overall.
The biggest issue with Banchero is the perimeter shot. If he shows he can consistently stretch the floor and hit threes in the NBA, he could change a franchise. His 34 percent mark from deep is the area in question, but Banchero carries so many more pros than that con. He can be a go-to star for a team in the NBA.
The Magic are in need of everything. Orlando has an All-NBA Rookie Team member in Franz Wagner, but beyond him, the Magic just need to find quality NBA players. So, while this may come as a surprise, the Magic picked the most NBA ready player in this draft class with the selection of Banchero. Grade: A
By the numbers: Averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48% from the floor. Becomes fifth Duke player to be drafted No. 1 overall.
YAHOO SPORTS
Grade: A-
Spoiler:
Banchero isn't as agile and lacks the lateral quickness Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren have but he has the most NBA-ready body at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds. The Duke forward can be plugged in right away alongside Wendell Carter Jr. for some added size and is comfortable starting the offense as a primary ball-handler of missed shots.
SPORTING NEWS
Grade: A+
Spoiler:
The Magic land at third on this list just because I believe they got the No. 1 pick right. While Jabari Smith Jr. was believed to be their guy all the way up until the final seconds, Orlando got, in my opinion, the best player in this draft class in Banchero. The Duke product gives the Magic a go-to guy and franchise player to build around moving forward, as well as an intriguing young wing in Houstan.
NBC SPORTS EDGE
Grade: B
Spoiler:
Notes: The Magic took many by surprise by taking Banchero first overall, but it doesn’t seem like there was a wrong choice out of the consensus top-three draftees. Banchero is already strong and skilled and will have a large role immediately, but you have to wonder how all the other forwards will fit into the rotation if they give Banchero a long leash from opening night. Franz Wagner was a rookie last season and was phenomenal, Wendell Carter Jr. had a great year, Mo Bamba had his moments and who knows what the status of Jonathan Isaac is. Bamba could be on the move which could make things a bit easier in terms of rotation, but it is going to be tricky nonetheless and we’ll have to wait and see how the team attacks it. Houstan is yet another forward, and for the reason cited above, he could have a tough time cracking the rotation unless a couple guys of his position were to get injured or traded.
HOOPS HABIT
Grade: A+
Spoiler:
With a 22-60 record, the Magic were the worst team, record-wise, in the NBA this season. With Jonathan Issac having an injury-riddled career thus far in the pros, it would make sense for the Magic to take one of the three highly-touted big men from this draft.
Orlando’s front office determined that Paolo Banchero out of Duke University was the best fit for them at the first-overall pick out of the big three. Banchero is a scorer who can put points up in bunches from all three levels. His size, combined with his physicality, makes him a threat on both sides of the court.
Banchero has the ability to lead a team, which has been a question of other top draft picks for the Magic.
Orlando’s front office determined that Paolo Banchero out of Duke University was the best fit for them at the first-overall pick out of the big three. Banchero is a scorer who can put points up in bunches from all three levels. His size, combined with his physicality, makes him a threat on both sides of the court.
Banchero has the ability to lead a team, which has been a question of other top draft picks for the Magic.
DRAFT KINGS
Grade: A
Spoiler:
Banchero is considered the best all-around prospect offensively of the top three guys, and he now gets a chance to be the go-to player in Orlando. The fit is interesting with a stacked frontcourt for the Magic, but Banchero can do everything offensively to elevate that group.
NY POST
Grade: B
Spoiler:
It’s hard to overstate the risk Orlando took in selecting Banchero first. This is a franchise that’s been essentially irrelevant for over a decade, swimming against the conventional wisdom with a decision that could make or break its future. Maybe it ends up working out in their favor. But it’s a hard sell when Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren, two players who look like far surer things, were sitting on the board. Houstan, who underperformed drastically at Michigan, was a reach at 32 as well.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Grade: A-
Spoiler:
The Magic just pulled off some all-time draft shenanigans, for which I’m slightly upgrading their grade here at No. 1. Orlando successfully kept this close to the vest and had much of the NBA fooled, including Banchero himself, who as I understand it wasn’t even sure he was the guy here. I had Banchero at No. 2 and Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 1 on my board, and I would have taken Smith, but this is a defensible decision by the Magic, who badly need the type of playmaking and offensive imagination Banchero offers and don’t have a true offensive focal point on the roster. I’m not giving them full credit, purely because I would have done it differently, but it’s going to be particularly fascinating to see how the careers of the top three picks play out after this curveball. If this is any indicator, it’s going to be a long night.
SPORTSNAUT
Grade: A-
Spoiler:
In what has to be considered one of the biggest surprises atop the NBA Draft in some time, the Magic have gone with this former Duke standout at No. 1 overall. Jabari Smith was the odds-on favorite in the months leading up to the draft. That changed mere minutes before Orlando was on the clock.
This isn’t necessarily a bad selection. The 6-foot-10 Banchero displayed flashes of brilliance en route to leading Duke to the Final 4 as a freshman. The Washington native averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He also shot 48% from the field and looked darn smooth in his mid-range game. This pick adds to a core group that includes 2021 lottery selections Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner in Orlando.
This isn’t necessarily a bad selection. The 6-foot-10 Banchero displayed flashes of brilliance en route to leading Duke to the Final 4 as a freshman. The Washington native averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He also shot 48% from the field and looked darn smooth in his mid-range game. This pick adds to a core group that includes 2021 lottery selections Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner in Orlando.
