NBA Draft: 5 Magic Targets at No. 6 & Their Pro Comparisons
With the clock ticking down to start of the NBA Draft, some aspects are set in place, while others are anybody's guess.
For Victor Wembanyama, the only reasonable explanation for him not being in a San Antonio Spurs hat Thursday night is him or the front office was abducted by aliens or some other form of extraterrestrial life.
However, after that is when the evening will truly get interesting. And there may not be a more intriguing draft position than the Orlando Magic.
With two lottery picks for the second time in three years, Orlando can head in a number of different directions with the selections - including forwards Taylor Hendricks, Cam Whitmore, Jarace Walker or guards Ausar Thompson and Anthony Black.
Hendricks, a one-and-done star at UCF last season, draws comparisons to Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels according to ESPN.
Noah Goldberg
"[Hendricks] is probably not bulky enough to play center full-time, but he's easy to plug into a range of lineup types and offers a fairly safe floor due to the inherent value of what he does," ESPN writes. "We've seen McDaniels grow into similar value in Minnesota, toggling between forward spots and providing a mix of size, defense and scoring."
Whitmore, who also played one season of college ball, posted 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in his lone season at Villanova. Due to his ability to attack the basket and draw contact, Whitmore could become a similar player to Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges.
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"Whitmore's strong frame and explosive vertical game place him in the vein of someone such as Bridges, who at his best is a useful play finisher, shooter and defender who can create mismatches and advantages from multiple positions," ESPN writes.
Walker, who has been shooting up draft boards due to his defensive versatility and underrated offensive game, could become the second coming of Paul Millsap - a do-it-all forward who can guard multiple positions.
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"While Walker doesn't project as a top offensive option, his feel for the game, underrated passing ability and physical tools should allow him to add value and make other players better, while supplying quite a bit on the defensive side," ESPN writes.
Thompson, who has been linked heavily to Orlando in recent weeks, brings question marks after playing two seasons for Overtime Elite. However, his physical gifts as a big guard bring comparisons to longtime NBA great Andre Iguodala.
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"Ausar's physical gifts and tenacity give him a chance to become a valuable two-way perimeter player," ESPN writes. "Capable of slowing down the opponent's top scorers and also chipping in buckets and making plays for teammates -- the type of role Iguodala grew into and excelled at for much of his career."
Finally, Black who also played as an tall distributor and capable of guarding multiple positions during his one-and-done career at Arkansas. With his mix of two-way potential and seamless fit in today's NBA, the 19-year-old showcases flashes of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey.
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"As a jumbo point guard with excellent passing chops, great defensive instincts and plenty of untapped upside like Giddey," ESPN writes. "Black enters the NBA in an era where size, skill and feel are at a premium, particularly in perimeter players."
The NBA Draft is held tomorrow at 8 p.m. from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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