And the Magic select…
It’s tough to gauge what a team with the 22nd overall pick will do in the draft. There are so many different scenarios and variables that I am having a difficult time predicting who Orlando will take in the first-round, as I’m sure many Orlando fans are as well. We all might have our favorites (mine is Brandon Rush, but I doubt he’ll be there) but it will be the Magic brass that will determine who will be wearing blue. In order to clear things up for readers and myself, I am going to put a percentage list of which players I think have the best chances of winding up in Orlando. 100% means it’s a foregone conclusion, 0% means it will be impossible, but for the sake of time I will only be concentrating on guys that are realistic selections at 22.
Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky- 80%- Orlando really likes Lee, and with both Keyon Dooling and Mo Evans possibly leaving as free agents, a guard is a must for Orlando. My only problem with Lee is that he resembles a more athletic J.J Redick without the purest shot around. He can put up points, is consistent and has worked out very well. Not a lot of upside, but Orlando likes that Lee could contribute immediately and he should be there when the Magic select.
Jason Thompson, PF/C, Rider, 75%- Rider could go before or after the 22nd pick but I know that Otis Smith is fond of Thompson, who has worked out for the Magic twice. He is an athletic big who is a little undersized and is a four-year senior, but he could mesh very well with Dwight Howard for years to come.
JaVale McGee, C, Nevada, 65%- A raw player but Orlando likes his potential. At 7’0” with a 7’6” wing-span, McGee has the ability to dominate opponents on the boards and as a shot-blocker. Both of his parents have played professional ball, but he is flustered too easily at times. If he is around, Orlando might have to seriously consider him.
Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG/SF, Memphis, 65%- His stock has fallen and he may not be a great fit in Orlando’s system, but CDR fills a need and has some potential that can still be uncovered.
J.J Hickson, PF, N.C State, 65%- Kind of a worst-case scenario pick for Orlando, Hickson would only be taken is CDR is left on the board. He is a young guy with a big body who could develop into a Carlos Boozer type or might not improve and would be in the mold of a Chris Wilcox. Not a bad choice, but I’m not sure how high Orlando is on him.
Marreese Speights, PF/C, Florida, 45%- If Speights is available at 22, this is who Orlando will take. Smith loves him and Speights would fit in well here. He still needs to develop some, but his raw talent would validate his selection here.
Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas, 45%- Like Speights, he would be difficult to pass up at 22, but Arthur is likely to be gone before that. Arthur is a solid big who has an excellent outside game, which could provoke Stan Van Gundy’s interest.
Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas, 35%- Orlando might need a bigger point guard, and if Chalmers is around, he would certainly fill that void. He would be a great 1-2 punch with Jameer Nelson, but I’m not sure he will be avalaible.
Donte Green, SF, Syracuse, 30%- A talented player oozing with potential, but is he what Orlando needs. NBA Draft.net has him going to us, but he doesn’t fill a need and the Magic wouldn’t get an immediate return on him in all likelihood. Still, Orlando might have a hard time passing up Green.
Robin Lopez, PF/C, Stanford, 30%- Like Speights and Arthur, he would be a talented big who likely won’t be there when Orlando picks, but would be a nice fit if he is available.
DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M, 25%- The super athletic, big frosh was once considered a top 5 pick. Now he could drop to 22nd and Orlando might not even take him. Jordan will be a project, but could you imagine him and Howard lining up next to each other?
Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio St, 20%- A fundamentally sound big who has a better outside game than inside. He has a big body and is working on what could be a dominant post-game. He should be selected in top 15, but he could fall. I’d be happy with this.
Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas, 15%- A pipedream, but man would Rush falling to 22 be sweet. He could contribute immediately and would fit into what Orlando wants to do offensively. Keep your fingers crossed…
Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown, 10%- Should be around when Orlando picks, but the Magic really aren’t high on him. I said Hickson would be a worst-case scenario, but this would be disastrous. Hibbert once had potential, but his knack for disappearing in big games will deter a lot of teams.
Joey Dorsey, PF, Memphis, 5%- A likely selection if Orlando trades into the second-round, but the Magic could just go for broke and take Dorsey in the first if other guys they like are gone. Orlando could trade down in the draft as well, and again, Dorsey would be a likely choice.
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27 Responses to “And the Magic select…”
June 26th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Just to let you guys know, I will be doing some blogging here during the draft, so feel free to stop by to throw in your opinions guys.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:41 am
my main man brendan!!! how exciting is today!!!! draft day! i realy hope that brandon rush will fall, but i am not seeing him fall that late in the first round. The magic have had pretty crappy drafts as far back as i can remember, besides the dwight and jameer draft, and the shaq draft no one else has contributed… lets hope that we dont take a foreigner again who will never see playing tome like fran vasquez.. i looked at his stats the other day and they are horrible, and he isnt even playing against real talent.. do you label him a bust yet brendan?
June 26th, 2008 at 11:53 am
It is exciting, isnt it. I dont think Brandon Rush will fall either, just hoping.
IGood observation dean, didnt even include a foriegner for two reasons. 1.) An immediate return is unlikely, and Orlando likely wants someone that can help out right away. 2,) Fran…
He is really close to being labled a bust, He is reportedly doing poor in Spain as you mentioned. Fran wont be here until a season from now and then he has to adapt to the NBA game…It is not looking good, but I dont want to lable him a bust just yet,
This being said, wouldnt you love to have the 11th overall pick in this draft? A big talent difference, that’s for sure.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
if we had the 11th pick, we would be set!!! i say they would go for a guard instead of a big, but who knows..l.What do you think of Turk playing the two guard next year? just hear me out.. he almost always brings the ball up the court.. the ball seems to always flow through him, and he could be a big missmatch with his height.. remember the 6foot 9 shooting guard who was drafted out of cincinatti i cant remember his name, but he played with kenyon martin he was good for a year then you never heard of him again
June 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
i think he was drafted by atlanta
June 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
DeMarr Johnson is you are thinking about. I was younger when he was around, but if I recall correctly, I think he suffered a neck injury in a car accident. He was dubbed the next T-mac at one time.
I am really not sure how I feel about Hedo at SG. When he does take the ball up, the offense seems to move well, and he is arguably one of the best lob passers in the NBA.
My problem with Hedo is that while he can takeover at times, he takes too many ill-advised shots and the offense can also become stagnent at times when he isnt getting/making his shots. it is hard to rely on a guy that takes the offense out of rythym as easily. Hedo is a great bargin and means a lot to this team, and while i dont think he’ll go anywhere, Im still not sure whether or not he should be Orlando’s two-guard. I get where you are coming from though and it is something I (and coaches/Smith and fans) should all ponder more.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
yes it should be thought about because if you look at it like this. say you bring hedo off the bench.. hear me out.. he can sub for rashard if he is moved back to small forward, and when rashard is on the floor he can come in for whoever the two guard is.. moving lewis back to samll forward, and having turk come off the bench could ignite this team, giving them an option to put a real power forward next to howard, that is actually a true PF, cause lewis is a true SF, so i think by having turk come off the bench can realy make this team special, but we need another big man to play PF maybee a draft pick what do you think brendan?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
That is exactly what I would do Dean, bring Hedo off the bench. He would be better there but he could be a Manu Ginobli type, to where he is still one of the team’s best contributor’s even though he is coming off the bench. It can give him more freedom on offense.
A PF is looking very likely in the draft right now, as Lee is the only SG really worht taking with the 22nd pick, so I agree with you there as well. I’m thinking if Thompson is there, Orlando goes with him.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
i just realy hope we get someone who can contribute, because im tired of having the worst bench in the nba it sucks… 4 hours away!! we will soon find out. if i had to guess i would say they trade down to the second round, and then go after joey doresy, but i would love to see them pickup a second round pick like you said, and keep the first round pick. what are the odds of us getting that pick?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Getting the second? good question, better than 50/50 in my opinion, I think we do get it, especially if it’s only cash consideration. Four hours indeed, it is always exciting, especially when you have a first-round pick. Heck, I was even pumped last year, and Orlando had a 2nd,w hich they then traded.
Back in Florida by the way. I enjoy visiting CT, but it was a long 3 weeks
June 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
oh realy!!! yeah i miss florida i was stationed in pennsicola and have family in tampa. it seems as if we are the onlt two that are pumped for the draft this blog has only been me and you!! lol i just heard that jianlin was traded for richard jeferson, and jermaine oneal went to toronto for tj ford now we realy need a big man!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Wow it seems like everyone is making moves now. What i am hoping for is the magics to trade down using J.J reddick and drafting Darrell Arthur or Marresse Speights.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
yeah everyone but us huh magic92
June 26th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Yeah, i went out for an hour and two trades went down. I like tampa, my girl friend goes to USF so I go there a lot.
Welcome Magic 92, I would love to see something like that too, but I think Otis is standing pat. The only problem I think Otis with having in trading up with using J.J is that it leaves Orlando thin at guard, especially with Dooling asking for a lot and Evans wanting a pay bump too. If neither of those guys come back, Orlando gets really weak at SG. Orlando’s best option might be trading up a very little bit, say to 18-20 to guarntee they get someone they like, and that way they dont give up too much in the process.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
It’s ok, because you two are the only ones that have been consistently checking the site this off-season. Everyone comes in waves, but Damien will offer some good insight if he drops by.
FYI, I’m going to put out one more story in an hour or so, and that’s where I will do the live blog from….nearly two hours and counting.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Reports from Florida Today:
Orlando assistant general manager Dave Twardzik contacted Lee’s representatives Wednesday night and informed them that he was the team’s choice if still available at No. 22. The only factors that could change that would be if Stanford center Robin Lopez or Florida’s Marreese Speights were still available — something that is highly unlikely.
Also, in another interview, Otis Smith said he will not trade any of our “core players”, and went on to name Howard, Lewis, Turk, and Nelson.
They asked him specifically about the possibility of trading Hedo, and he said the deal would have to “knock his socks off”.
I hope for a few surprises tonight, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Magic are “one and done” tonight.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Thanks Damien, I had a feeling you’d be showing up soon. You going to be around to help host the draft blog? Short notice, I know, I only came up with it this morning…
June 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
that sucks.. we need a 2 guard desperately and i think that lopez is way way over rated.. tell me when the last time stanford produced a good big man and dont even say childress, or any palyer of that matter
June 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I wouldnt like Lopez at all…Lee or Thompson are realistic, with Speights being a possible drop
June 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
By the way, a “broken” overpaid Jermaine O’Neal isn’t going to impact who is going to the Finals in the East.
Although that move should mean Jamaal Tinsley is available, which is somewhat appealing to me.
As for the Yi for RJ deal, I’m really not sure what to make of it yet. RJ is a solid player, but I’ve just never been a fan. Yi on the other hand has plenty of potential. Either way, that deal alone doesn’t have much of an impact, as neither team is currently playoff caliber.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
yeah im sure you are getting tired of reading my blogs huh brendan!! Lol i am just a die hard magic fan. i actually do alot of writing for giants.com, and now that we have a ring i am turning my focus to my other big blue!!! go magic.. you do a great job here brendan, and all the other sites i check arent updated as much as here so i thank you for that. orlando sentinel is ok but there is too much pause in between articles
June 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Thanks Dean, I do appreciate it and I am certainly not tired of your comments. I love when people comment here, it spurs good ideas and when everyone does it respectfuly (as you, Magic92, Eyriq, Anders and my boy Damien do) everyone wins. When you comment, it inspires me to write more often…please keep it up and I do enjoy all the comments, ideas and suggestions.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
collectively we can make this the best site for magic info and conversations.. im sure in about 2 hours we will have alot to talk about!!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I think so. The more people comment, the more stories that are written and it grows. There are only a few Magic blog sites that produce as often as we do.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I’m planning on keeping my laptop open in my living room during the draft tonight. So, I’m sure I’ll be dropping a few opinions on here tonight.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
ill be on all night so hopefully someone else will be!!!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Yea, other sites like sentinel do have a long pause between articles, thats why i drop in here so much. And Brendan’s articles always make the most sense and are always interesting. so thanks to brendan for taking the time to write these articles for us magics fan.
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