NBA Mock Draft: Magic Addressing Perimeter Shooting?
The Orlando Magic unfortunately lost the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes following Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery.
However, the team still has a lot to be optimistic about after receiving the No. 6 and No. 11 overall draft picks.
Luckily for Orlando, the top three prospects in this year's class, Wembanyama, guard Scoot Henderson and forward Brandon Miller, are ultimately locked as the top three selections come draft night, leaving options when the Magic's name is called.
In The Athletic's post-lottery mock draft, they predict the Magic drafting one of the biggest stock risers over the past few months - UCF forward Taylor Hendricks.
"He’s over 6-9 in shoes and has over a 7-foot wingspan," The Athletic writes. "He’s an elite defensive player and has real athleticism. He slides his feet incredibly well as an on-ball defender and has real switchability. Off the ball, he’s very impactful as a weakside rim protector who can fly over in help situations and block shots."
Hendricks, UCF's highest-rated recruit in program history, averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this season while also shooting 39 percent from three.
"The Magic love guys like Hendricks who are long, athletic and have high upside," The Athletic writes. "On top of that, Hendricks actually fills a real need as a shooter for a team that really could use one. The team finished in the bottom 10 in the NBA in 3-point rate, and the Magic shot just 34.6 percent this season."
And at No. 11, another true freshman who dominated in his lone collegiate season could be an immediate impact player in Orlando - Kansas forward Gradey Dick.
"The list of high-major true freshmen in the last 30 years, per Sports-Reference, to average 14 points and shoot 40 percent from 3 while taking at least 200 3s is limited," The Athletic writes. "It’s Dick, Gary Trent, Kevin Durant, D’Angelo Russell, O.J. Mayo, Tajuan Porter and Jamal Murray.
"The Magic need shooting around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, especially if they’re going to continue with a backcourt core of Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs. Dick is an elite shooter. This is an easy one."
Dick, one of the nation's premier sharpshooter's last season, knocked down over 40 percent of his attempts from downtown and 85.4 percent from the charity stripe while posting 14.1 points per contest.
The NBA Draft is held on Thursday, June 22nd at the Barclays Center.
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