After a 34-48 season that put them 13th in the East, the Orlando Magic are looking to continue to build through the NBA Draft in hopes of getting back into playoff contention. Despite holding the 6th and 11th overall picks this year, reports say they’re looking to trade into the top-five, looking to select one promising young prospect to fit with their young core on the rise.
NBA Draft Rumors: Orlando Magic Looking to Trade into Top 5
Current Young Core
The Magic’s recent draft day success is well-documented, selecting franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero with the top pick last year and Jalen Suggs (5th) and Franz Wagner (8th) in 2021. They also have Cole Anthony, selected 15th overall in 2020, and Jonathan Isaac, who they drafted at #6 in 2017. Various trades, including moving on from Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic, netted them Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr., two mainstays in the starting lineup. And then there’s fan-favorite Bol Bol, a 7-foot-2 center who has earned rotational minutes with Orlando.
With that much potential comes the need for adequate development. That’s why the Magic are going for one top-five player instead of two in the lottery. Here are three potential draft targets if the Magic manage to move up.
Target #1: Amen Thompson
Though mock drafts have Orlando taking Ausar Thompson at #6, his twin brother, Amen, could be the better option. An athletic facilitator and a standout defender, Amen would serve a “point-forward” role with the Magic if drafted, an advantage given his 6-foot-7, 209-pound frame. With the Houston Rockets considering trading their 4th overall pick to fill needs of playmaking, shooting and defense, Amen, considered to be the consensus fourth overall pick, would increase the Magic’s defensive rating (113.7 this season) and playmaking abilities (23.2 APG; assist percentage of 57.4).
Target #2: Cameron Whitmore
Villanova’s Cameron Whitmore appears likely to be selected in the 5-7 range of the 2023 Draft. Though the Detroit Pistons are likely reluctant to trade one spot back from their fifth overall pick, Whitmore would add to Orlando’s wing depth while developing into a solid rotational player. After a season hampered with injuries, Whitmore is proving his worth as an immediate contributor, as evidenced by a solid combine where he recorded a 40.5-inch vertical and displayed his shooting touch during a Pro Day workout. Even if Orlando stays put at #6, the Wildcat wing would be an ideal draft target for them.
Target #3: Scoot Henderson
If Orlando convinces the Portland Trail Blazers to swap places for the third pick, then they must target Scoot Henderson. Though they already have three young point guards, the Ignite prospect still deserves consideration. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a trade that would send veteran guard Gary Harris, Carter Jr., and the 6th and 11th picks to the Blazers for the 3rd pick and Anfernee Simons, arguing that “the hyper-explosive Henderson has a ceiling that sits several stories above the rest.” It would effectively provide Orlando with an ideal complement to Banchero while adding a breakout shooting guard in Simons. Magic fans can dream about trading into the top-three, but if they’re successful, then Scoot should be their guy.
The Last Word on the Orlando Magic
There’s no doubt that something special is happening in Orlando. A move into the top-five would greatly increase the team’s chances at returning to the playoffs sooner rather than later. Even if they stay put, one thing is clear: the Magic are solidifying their future one pick at a time.
