NBA Mock Draft: Magic Adds to Young Core
The 2023 NBA Draft boasts a highly coveted pool of players headlined by Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92) and Scoot Henderson (NBA G League Ignite), but the Orlando Magic has three picks in pursuits of adding to an already budding young core.
USA Today's For the Win simulated all 58 selections, forecasting Cam Whitmore (Villanova) to be selected with the No. 5 overall pick, followed by Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas) at No. 8. Rounding out their pick of the litter is Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92) at No. 35 -- Orlando's lone second round pick.
Whitmore, 18, is a 6-7, 232-pound forward who averages 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 47.3 percent shooting from the field for the 16-15 Wildcats. The 2022 McDonald's All American and consensus five-star recruit falls outside of the top 500 in the nation in scoring and rebounding, but provides rare size and efficiency to suitors.
Smith Jr., a freshman with the Razorbacks, boasts 13.8 points per game on 33.3 percent shooting from the three-point line. He's had 24 or more points in three of his last four games for coach Eric Musselman -- all of which came at 50 percent or better from the floor and 37.5 percent or better from distance -- adding to his draft stock as March Madness approaches.
With the recent insurgency of international talent, Coulibaly adds to a growing demand for prospects from overseas. His appeal is merited by 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in the French LNB Espoirs league alongside Wembanyama. The do-it-all wing flaunts gaudy stats on both ends of the floor, and is prognosticated to be among the steals of the back half of the draft.
The Magic originally had its No. 5 and No. 35 overall picks, and added to its wealth via their 2021 deadline trade that sent center Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter and top-four protected picks in both 2021 and 2023.
The Magic currently has four combo forwards on their roster, including: Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke. It remains to be seen whether general manager John Hammond will pour onto his crowded depth chart at forward or provide reinforcements at shooting guard, currently filled by Gary Harris, but with three picks and two of those possibly in the top 10, there's a good chance more competition will be spread across the Magic roster.
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