The Orlando Magic could be building something special. The Magic haven’t made the playoffs in three years, but they have drafted well. The Magic also has done a good job with player development. Orlando finished this past season with a 34-48 record, a 12-win improvement over the previous season. Shooting was their most prominent area of deficiency.
NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic Targeting “Shooters” In Draft and Free Agency, Could Move Up In Draft
Orlando was the fifth-lowest-scoring team in the NBA during the 2022-23 season at 111.4 points a game. The Magic also ranked among the bottom 10 in several shooting categories. They were 26th in field goals made, 23rd in field goals attempted, and 21st in field goal percentage. Additionally, the Magic were 25th in 3-point makes, 27th in 3-point attempts, and 24th in 3-point percentage.
While 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year Paola Banchero led Orlando with 20 points a game, he shot just 42.7% from the field on 15 attempts per game. He also shot under 30% from the 3-point line. Banchero was one of six players who appeared in at least 20 games for the team to shoot below 45% from the floor. Jalen Suggs and Caleb Houstan were among the six players who shot poorly from the field.
The Magic’s president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, addressed the team’s shooting woes and offseason prospects of trying to fix the issue.
“Every team is looking at shooting these days — it’s just become too important part of the game. For sure, we need to get better [at] shooting the ball. But that can come from a lot of different avenues. That can come from internal growth over the summer, working individually with our players. It could come from the draft. It could come from discussions with other teams. It could come from shot selection. These are all parts of a growing team.”
“The real challenge of winning with a young team has a lot to do with role orientation and knowing the difference of time/score. These are the kind of things you need reps, experience and togetherness to gain a full understanding of. That feeds into the types of shots you’re getting, what’s your objective and all of these numbers all of a sudden start to look a little better. We have a lot of capable shooters on this team who will be good shooters. But we’re young. It doesn’t always happen right out of the gate.”
Orlando Has The Resources To Improve Shooting
Orlando will have plenty of opportunities to improve their shooting and nearly every other area. While the Magic have 14 players under contract, they have plenty of flexibility, with just seven players having fully guaranteed deals.
Depending on what the Magic decides to do with the four players with nonguaranteed deals and three who have club options, they should have plenty of cap space. The Magic is projected to have between $22 and $56 million to spend this summer. They also have three 2023 draft picks in the first 36 selections, including two lottery selections (6th and 11th).
Orlando has been rumored to be interested in moving up in the draft, with Detroit, Houston, and Portland being potential trade partners. With such a deep draft, I am not sure it is worth trading up for the Magic. Unless Brandon Miller falls to the Magic, and their executives are satisfied with any of his character flaws. Or if Orlando absolutely “falls in love” with Scoot Henderson, Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, or Ausar Thompson.
However, Henderson is on the small side and still developing his 3-point game. More problematic is that Orlando is reportedly committed to developing Cole Anthony and Suggs as their lead guards of the future. So, there isn’t a great fit there.
The Thompson twins are uber-athletic. But there are significant questions surrounding their shooting acclimin.
So who are the Magic targeting in the draft and free agency?
Draft Targets
Cam Whitmore
Whitmore had a solid rookie season at Villanova, earning Big East Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and .478/.343/.703 shooting splits. But what stands out about the soon-to-be 19-year-old is his athleticism. The 6-6 forward, who has a 6-8.5 wingspan, maxed out his vertical jump at 40.5 inches and ranked in the 87th percentile with his lane agility at the NBA Combine.
Whitmore may be gone by the Magic picks at No. 6, with Detroit projected to take him by many draft pundits. But if he is still there, Orlando should grab him.
“Whitmore stands out as a guy who kinda plugs in the middle as a versatile wing,” The Ringer host Kevin O’Connor said on the Magic selecting Whitmore. “A guy who can be a lob threat, you can use him as a ball handler. I think [Whitmore] is the guy here for the Magic.”
Gradey Dick
Gradey Dick is a gifted shooter. The 19-year-old possesses good size at 6-6 with a 6-9 wingspan. He also has good ball-handling skills and works hard on the defensive end. Dick averaged 14.1 points and 2.3 threes a game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 40.3% from the beyond the arc. He added 5.1 rebounds a game in his freshman campaign at Kansas.
“Assuming the Magic aren’t giving up on ball-handling guards Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, or Markelle Fultz any time soon, they are set at point guard,” CBS Sports writes. “The need for Orlando is at shooting guard or on the wing, preferably in the form of a knockdown shooter. Dick checks that box with emphasis after shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc as a true freshman at Kansas.”
Taylor Hendricks
Taylor Hendricks is an ideal fit for the Magic with one of their two lottery picks, probably at No. 11 if he is still available. He is very versatile, super athletic, and can really shoot it. The 6-8 forward averaged 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point range in his lone season at UCF.
Jordan Hawkins
Jordan Hawkins is one of the best shooters in the draft. The 6-5 sharpshooting guard averaged 16.2 points and shot 38.8% from the 3-point line at UConn.
Anthony Black
Anthony Black is a two-way combo guard. Black has a high basketball IQ, great size, and is a terrific playmaker. He averaged 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals in 35 minutes as a freshman at Arkansas. However, if Orlando wants him, they will likely need to take him with the No. 6 pick, as Washington and a few others could nab him before their selection at No. 11.
Jarrace Walker
Jarace Walker is a two-way combo forward. While he projects to have more of an impact as a rebounder and defender in his rookie campaign, Walker does have the skills to be a solid playmaker offensively and to improve his perimeter shooting. The 6-7 forward owns a 7-2 wingspan and a 38″ vertical. Defensively, Walker is highly versatile, with the ability to switch on all five positions.
Dereck Lively II
Dereck Lively II is reportedly zooming up the draft boards. While he only averaged 5.4 points a game, he did a solid job on the boards on both ends. More impressive, the 7-1 center shot 65.8% from the field and recorded 2.4 blocks in just 21 minutes at Duke.
Lively, who has a 7-foot-8 wingspan, is very athletic and agile. He is an elite rim-runner who can step behind the 3-point arc. Orlando has a need at backup center. Wendell Carter Jr. is the starter. But Goga Bitadze has a team option, and Moe Wagner is an unrestricted free agent.
A Few Other Players To Consider in the First- Rounders and A Couple of Second-Rounders
Nick Smith Jr., Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Jett Howard also have been bantered around as possible players that Orlando may use their first-round picks on. While the first round is difficult to predict, round No. 2 is more complicated. A couple of players the Magic could be interested in are James Nnaji and Marcus Sasser.
Free Agent Targets
Regarding free agents, Orlando hasn’t been linked to many players. Gary Trent Jr. ($18.7 million) and Grant Williams are the main two rumored to interest the Magic. Orlando is expected to fully guarantee Fultz’s $17 million contract for the upcoming year. The Magic also could do the same with Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris. However, Harris makes more sense as he connected on a career-best 43.1% of his threes. Isaac is too injured prone to pay him $17 million a year, but he is guaranteed at least $7.6 million whether he remains with the team or not.
Trent Jr. is still under contract with Toronto but has a player option for the coming season that he is expected to decline. Trent is coming off a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. However, the 24-year-old is a pure scorer who averages 2.4 treys a game while shooting them at a 38.4% clip for his career. The Magic will likely have considerable competition in the open market for Trent.
Williams, a restricted free agent, is a solid combo forward with “3-D” ability. The 24-year-old is coming off a career season, averaging 8.1 points, 4.6 boards, and 1.6 triples a contest. He is nearly a 38% career 3-point shooter.
Boston is reportedly interested in re-signing Williams and owns his Bird rights. However, if they re-sign/match offers, the Celtics will likely be over or exceptionally close to the NBA’s prohibitive second tax apron.
Other potential names of interest include Austin Reaves and Cameron Johnson, although both are restricted free agents and are expected to re-sign with the Lakers and Nets. Donte DiVincenzo (player option) and Max Strus (unrestricted) make interesting potential options for the Magic. Orlando also could re-sign Wagner, who is coming off a career year.
