NBA Draft: Magic Have Interesting Decisions Ahead with Sixth, Eleventh Picks

With one of the more interesting roster constructions in the entire league, the Orlando Magic have interesting decisions ahead with their two 2023 NBA Draft lottery picks.

With 2022’s top pick Paolo Banchero and 2021 riser Franz Wagner firmly on board, Orlando has a strong foundation. And that’s not including plenty of valuable pieces in Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony.

But they still feel a few pieces away from truly making noise in the Eastern Conference, and that’s where their 2023 picks come into play.

Their top selection, sixth overall, was granted via their 34-48 season and will far-and-away be the more interesting of the two in terms of results. Sitting on the outside looking in of an essential four-man draft, the Magic have a plethora of options there.

The primary question is what position or need are they looking to fill, or will they simply take who they deem the best player available, regardless of fit. The team has obviously valued size and length of late, and this will be the season we’ll find out if that is the long-term plan, or if they were simply searching for stars.

Fultz has done a fine job at point guard, but if they were to fill one position, that might be at the top of the list. Luckily for Orlando, there’s a few options in the six range, one of which comes with good positional size in Arkansas' Anthony Black.

Keyonte George offers a tweener point guard-shooting guard hybrid that could handle the rock or play off-ball next to Orlando's forward tandem.

There should be a few wing options, and potentially the two best players available, in Overtime Elite’s Ausar Thompson and Villanova’s Cam Whitmore. Or they could look to continue their forward-driven squad by adding shooting and defensive versatility with Taylor Hendricks of UCF.

Orlando’s decision at six is going to be interesting and have massive implications on their future.

The eleventh overall pick, which was granted to them via Chicago from the Nikola Vucevic trade, should be much more straightforward. With Banchero,Wagner and more needing maximum spacing, they’ll likely try to find shooting in this area.

Kansas’ wing Gradey Dick and UConn sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins are both likely targets there.

Regardless, look for the Magic to make a splash in the 2023-24 season with added firepower.

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