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Holmgren is a rare find. Not only is he an elite rim protector, but he moves his feet decently for a 7-footer. That enables him to switch out onto the perimeter and guard in space. Even if he doesn’t do it quite as well as, for example, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, or Evan Mobley, it should be enough of a strength of his to avoid being a liability when defending on an island. What he displays on the other end of the floor will arguably be even more important as his game develops, however. We know he has range (shot 39 percent from 3-point land at Gonzaga), and we know he has a soft touch near the basket (shot 87 percent near the rim). What we don’t know is if he has enough shot-creation abilities to score without assistance. He’s not the fastest, nor is he the craftiest. His superior length to go along with his sweet shooting stroke might be enough, though, for him to manufacture enough points to be considered a major offensive weapon. He’s a sneaky good passer, too, and some believe he could evolve into a point center down the road. READ MORE &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scoring is obviously the most prominent part of basketball, and Banchero, at 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, does that perhaps better than anyone else in this draft. Not only can he make shots from any spot on the floor, but his blend of finesse, power, fluidity, and coordination makes him a potential No. 1 scoring option on an NBA team. On top of that, he can really pass. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he became a team’s primary or secondary playmaker. There are a few concerns, however. One, can he defend? While he wasn’t a negative on that end at Duke, it’s clear that he doesn’t move his feet all that well, nor does he protect the rim at a high level. Also, while slick and crafty, he doesn’t have nuclear speed. Could that make it a little more difficult for him to shake defenders when he goes to work in isolation? And finally, he only shot 33.8 percent from 3-point range this past season. Does he have a good enough touch from distance to make threes more efficiently at the next level? READ MORE&nbsp;

Every team could use more 3-point shooting, especially from their frontline players. That is the main reason why the 6-foot-10 Smith drew so much national attention throughout the college season. He shot 42 percent as a freshman at Auburn from 3-point distance on 188 attempts. In one game (against Vanderbilt on Feb. 16), he drilled seven triples, which were the second most ever at Neville Arena. But his skills stretch beyond his range shooting. He can take a couple dribbles going either direction, stop on a dime, and knock down mid-range jays. On the other end of the floor, he’s as tough as nails and uses his lateral quickness and length to his advantage. Missing from his game, however, is shot creation. His movements are a bit choppy; his ball-handling is raw; he rarely attacks the basket (only 12 percent of his shot attempts came at the rim); and he sometimes takes contested shots with two, or even three defenders draped over him. READ MORE  

Over the last 15-plus years, players like Ivey – who are fast, slithery, electric, and explosive – have fared well in the league. Dwyane Wade, for instance, was nearly impossible to stop early in his career because of how relentless he was attacking the basket. Derrick Rose was not only a blur in the open floor, but he was also so crafty that shot blockers struggled to contest his layups. Russell Westbrook, of course, has always been the most athletic player on the court. Now, Ja Morant has reached superstar status with his blend of speed, finesse, explosiveness, and edge. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Ivey shares those same characteristics. Getting downhill certainly won’t be a problem in the pros. There’s less space in college to operate, and yet he still managed to accelerate all the way to the hoop on the regular. While he did improve his outside shooting his sophomore year, the jury is still out on whether he will be reliable enough from distance for defenders not to sag off him. Also, unlike Morant or Westbrook, Ivey has yet to prove he can be a lead guard and choreograph a high-powered offense. READ MORE&nbsp;&nbsp;

Everyone loves a mystery. It’s the unknown that ropes us in. Well, in this year’s draft, the mystery man is Sharpe, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound swingman with through-the-roof potential. The reason he’s such a mystery is because he didn’t appear in any games for Kentucky despite being the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2021. Even the high school tape on him is limited because he went to three different schools and wasn’t on anyone’s radar until right before his senior year at Dream City Christian in Arizona. What we know about him, though, is that he’s a jump-out-of-the-gym athlete. A dunk contest is almost certainly in his future if he chooses to participate. But also, he’s a very smooth, fluid shot creator with a Jalen Green-esque step-back jumper. We just don’t know how sharp (play on words) he will be at the next level. The team that selects him must be patient. READ MORE&nbsp;

Few, if any, have Murray at the top of their draft board. But, based on his play this past season at Iowa, perhaps he should at least be in the conversation. The 6-foot-8 Murray is a jack-of-all-trades type prospect. He really doesn’t have any major flaws. The problem is that he’s not a master at any one thing. He can shoot; he can score down low; he can push the tempo, he’s relentless on the glass; he can defend multiple positions; and he doesn’t turn the ball over a ton. But he doesn’t necessarily do any of those things at an elite level. Plus, the fact that he scored most of his points in college in the low post is a bit of a concern considering he’s only 6’8. He took advantage of every mismatch. That won’t happen in the NBA, though, as guys at his position will be able to push him off the block. Still, averaging 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds is nothing to sneeze at. It is important to note as well that he will be 22 years old by the time he starts his NBA career. READ MORE&nbsp;

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by Josh Cohen are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.

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Here’s What the Potential 2022 No. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks Bring to the Table 

ORLANDO –&nbsp;The good news keeps rolling in for the Orlando Magic.&nbsp;

A night after they were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, one of their prized lottery selections from last year’s draft received recognition that he ranks among the top in his class.&nbsp;

Magic forward Franz Wagner, the eighth overall selection in 2021, was named to the Kia NBA’s All-Rookie First Team on Wednesday night, adding another accolade to an already impressive first-year resume. He received 84 out of a possible 100 First Team votes.

“Franz had a tremendous rookie season,” Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said recently on FM 96.9 The Game’s Open Mike. “I feel that he learned what eighty-two games is about. He came within a whisker of playing all eighty-two, which would have been a hell of an accomplishment. But the fact that he did play as many as he did, I think is remarkable in today’s NBA for a rookie.”&nbsp;

Along with almost playing in every contest – his 79 games played were the most among any first-year player this season – Wagner scored the most points (1,197), grabbed the fifth most rebounds (356), dished out the sixth most assists (231), and tallied the fifth most steals (68) among all rookies. His 17 20-plus-point performances were the fourth most by a Magic rookie all-time – trailing only Shaquille O’Neal (60), Penny Hardaway (29), and Dennis Scott (24).&nbsp;

Wagner becomes the 10th player in franchise history to be named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and the first since 2014-15. He joins Scott (1990-91), O’Neal (1992-93), Hardaway (1993-94), Matt Harpring (1998-99), Mike Miller (2000-01), Drew Gooden (2002-03), Dwight Howard (2004-05), Victor Oladipo (2013-14) and Elfrid Payton (2014-15).

“I’m super grateful that I got a lot of opportunity, a lot more than I expected coming in,” said Wagner during his season wrap-up interview. “It made my development a little quicker, I think, (being able) to try some stuff, make some mistakes, and learn on the fly too, and be in some situations that I wasn’t necessarily in a lot in college. I like those challenges, and I’m very thankful to the coaching staff for giving me that opportunity.”&nbsp;

While his opportunity may have been unique, so was his efficiency for a first-year player. Among the top-10 scoring rookies, he had the third-highest field goal percentage (46.8), second-best 3-point percentage (35.4) and top free throw percentage (86.3). &nbsp;

“Franz is very smart,” Magic guard Cole Anthony explained. “A lot of these rookies on these other teams, they’re getting the third, fourth, or fifth-best defender guarding them. Franz, night in and night out, is probably getting the best, if not the second best, defender on each squad’s team. That’s a huge difference, man.” &nbsp;

His best stint of the 2021-22 campaign came during the holiday season. During the month of December, Wagner averaged an NBA rookie-best 19.5 points per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor, 40.4 percent from 3-point range, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

That month was highlighted by a stellar 38-point explosion against the defending champions on Dec. 28. Afterwards, he drew praise from Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, who called the performance “one of the better games that I've seen a rookie have in our league.” &nbsp;

That 38-point showing, the second most by any rookie in a single game this season and the third most all time by an Orlando first-year player, also drew praise from a two-time MVP. &nbsp;

“I think he’s really good,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “We played him at home twice (in November). He was okay. He was good. But he came out the previous game we played (Dec. 28), played really well, got to his spots, knocked down threes, got to the free throw line. He came out (on Dec. 30), he played great. Got his teammates involved. Got his shots. I think sky’s the limit for him. For real. I wish him nothing but the best.”&nbsp;

Wagner is just part of a young core that has the organization – and its fans for that matter – so excited for the future. Jalen Suggs – Orlando’s selection at No. 5 overall in the same class – also showed flashes of becoming a high-end two-way player. Among rookies who played in at least 10 games, he finished ninth in points (11.8), third in assists (4.4), and third in steals (1.2) per contest. Like Wagner and Anthony, he was also named to the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars Game.&nbsp;

“I’m so excited for what we’re growing and building with the Magic,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley. “We have the most amazing fans that have been so supportive and patient. They’re just willing and wanting us to continue to build our success the right way. And that’s what we’re doing. (With the No. 1 overall pick in this draft, we’re going to add) another competitive, young, talented, high-basketball IQ player to our group that’s already close knit together. It’s going to be very exciting.”&nbsp;

Joining Wagner on the All-NBA First Team were Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Houston’s Jalen Green, and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.&nbsp;

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Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner Named to NBA's All-Rookie First Team

CHICAGO –&nbsp;When the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft is in play, you break out all the superstitious stops.&nbsp;

Was it the gut-feeling that led to a last-second decision to switch from Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman to Head Coach Jamahl Mosley as the team’s representative on stage? Or could it have been the lucky ping-pong balls from prior lottery victories carried by Magic Chief Communications Officer Joel Glass into the sequestered room where the real selection process takes place? Perhaps it was the lucky wristwatch Cole DeVos wore that was owned by his late grandfather, Magic caretaker Rich DeVos? Maybe it was something done by a Magic fan that is reading this very story?&nbsp;

Whatever the case may be, it worked!&nbsp;

Faced with 14-percent odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Magic came away with just that on Tuesday night as they were awarded the top pick in the draft and smiles, hugs, and exhilaration overtook members of the organization in attendance.&nbsp;

“I was working on all of my breathing as it happened. My heart was definitely pounding,” said Mosley. “Again, it’s just that excitement for this fanbase. Excitement for our guys on the roster. Excitement for the organization just moving into that situation.”&nbsp;

The franchise’s contingent in Chicago were not the only ones enthused by the outcome. Fans at the team’s official watch party, co-hosted by The Sixth Man Show and presented by Michelob Ultra, erupted in excitement the moment it became clear the Magic would have the top pick. Similar reactions from Magic fans all over the globe could be found all over social media.

“I’m so happy for our fans tonight,” said Weltman. “They’ve really stuck with us and nights like this help. Where you can really show the fruits of why we go through these phases and cycles. So, hopefully they’re really excited by this. I think they will be. We’re going to add another really good player to our talent base. I think it’s an exciting night.”&nbsp;

This marks the fourth time in franchise history that the Magic possess the No. 1 overall pick. Their back-to-back pulls of the premier ping-pong ball during the team’s infancy enabled them to select future Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal first overall in 1992 and then engineer a draft-night trade for Penny Hardaway and three future first round picks in 1993. Those moves instantly morphed the Magic into a 50-win club and helped propel them to their first Finals appearance in 1995.&nbsp;

In 2004, lady luck was once again on the side of Orlando as it landed the top pick and subsequently drafted Dwight Howard. The perennial All-Star center went on to win three straight NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards for the Magic and vaulted them to two straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, including a 2009 trip to the NBA Finals.&nbsp;

“We’ve seen what it can mean in the past,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins, who was with the organization for both of those memorable runs. “The past three times that we’ve won, it’s ultimately led us to an NBA Finals in both of those eras. Hopefully, this is a piece that can get us back into contention. You have to take it one step at a time, so getting back into contention, getting back into the playoffs, and ultimately, getting back to competing for a championship is our goal.”&nbsp;

Unlike many players who go to organizations awarded the No. 1 overall pick, this Magic team is not devoid of talent. The group currently features a number of lottery selections at its core, including Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jonathan Isaac to go along with other promising young pieces such as Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, and Chuma Okeke.&nbsp;

“I’m so excited for what we’re growing and building with the Magic,” said Mosley. “We have the most amazing fans that have been so supportive and patient. They’re just willing and wanting us to continue to build our success the right way. And that’s what we’re doing. When you add another competitive, young, talented, high-basketball IQ player to our group that’s already close knit together, it’s going to be very exciting.”&nbsp;

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Orlando Magic Land No. 1 Overall Pick in 2022 NBA Draft

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Photos: Orlando Magic Win 2022 NBA Draft Lottery

Keegan Murray, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, loves to grab and go. It was common for him at Iowa this past season after collecting a defensive rebound to storm down the court and navigate his way toward the basket for a coast-to-coast layup or dunk. There’s something very Kyle Kuzma-esque about Murray when the ball is in his hands in transition. Murray, who led all of Division I college basketball in points last season and finished second in the Big Ten in rebounds, looks very coordinated and fluid when dribbling up the court and attacking the hoop.&nbsp;

We don’t see too many players anymore play with their back to the basket, but that’s not the case for Murray, who has outstanding footwork and touch when operating down low. He goes to work quickly after receiving the entry pass, preventing opponents from getting the ball out of his hands. He has a knack for making shots from weird angles on the low block (made 73 percent of his shot attempts at the rim). There’s something Chris Bosh-esque about his movements, balance, and shot selection when he posts up or turns a face-up into a post-up. It remains to be seen, though, if at 6'8 this will translate at the next level or if he will get swallowed up in the paint against stronger competition. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Murray’s No. 1 weakness his freshman year with the Hawkeyes was 3-point shooting. Now, it’s one of his top strengths after making a 10-percent improvement from long range his sophomore campaign. In 2021-22, he shot just a shade under 40 percent from downtown on 166 attempts overall and 44 percent from the top of the key on 50 attempts, which is important because that’s where most pick-and-pop 3-pointers are taken.

Also a big deal is that he’s a legit two-way player. In the Big Ten in 2021-22, Murray logged the seventh-best defensive rating (96.8), the third-best block percentage (6.4), and the 13th-best steal percentage (2.3). Not only can he drop down into the paint and protect the rim, but he moves his feet well laterally and can stay attached to the ball handlers on the perimeter. Sometimes, however, he would gamble a bit too much when trying to come up with a deflection or steal on a pass.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Murray only averaged 1.5 assists this past season. The most assists he accumulated in a single game was four, and he did that just once (against Alabama State on Nov. 18). There were eight games, meanwhile, in which he didn’t record any assists, including against Nebraska on Feb 13 when he exploded for a season-best 37 points. Although he generally kept his turnovers in check, it seemed like nearly every time he got the ball – either on a post-up, off a cut, a spot-up or in transition – he was on a mission to score and didn’t really survey the floor.&nbsp;

Murray generally outplays opponents with length, finesse, and relentlessness (constantly moving) rather than with power, speed, or explosiveness. He’s not a good enough ball handler to create his own shot when facing up on the perimeter. In college, he often relied on a spin move to generate some space while hunting for a shot down low. Many times, it led to a quality shot, but occasionally, his loose handles and lack of a follow-up move resulted in a turnover or a forced shot while leaning into a defender.&nbsp;

Ceiling: Pascal Siakam (movement), Kyle Kuzma (transition offense/build), Tobias Harris (offensive versatility), and Chris Bosh (low-post game)

Others he’s like: Bobby Portis and Noah Vonleh&nbsp;

Strengths:&nbsp;Transition Offense: Low-Post Scoring/Footwork, 3-Point Shooting (spot-up and off movement), Rebounding, Defensive Versatility

Weaknesses:&nbsp;Playmaking, Facilitating, Ball Handling, Speed, Pull-Up Shooting, Age (will be 22 at start of next season)

College Roundup:&nbsp;Scored in double figures in 34 of the 35 games he appeared in with Iowa his sophomore season, including going for 30-plus points five times. Also recorded 10 double-doubles, including against North Carolina Central on Nov. 16 when he had 27 points and 21 rebounds. In 2022, he was named a consensus first-team All-American and earned both the Karl Malone Award (top collegiate power forward) and Big Ten Tournament MVP Award.&nbsp;

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2022 NBA Draft: Keegan Murray’s Strengths and Weaknesses

CHICAGO –&nbsp;Lottery night can change a franchise’s fortune in an instant.&nbsp;

With the pull of a lucky number, a team’s trajectory can completely swing in the matter of moments.&nbsp;

This concept is no stranger to the Orlando Magic, whose lottery victories were key catalysts in both of their NBA Finals runs.&nbsp;

Their back-to-back pulls of the premier ping-pong ball during the team’s infancy enabled them to select future Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal first overall in 1992 and then engineer a draft-night trade for Penny Hardaway and three future first round picks in 1993. Those moves instantly morphed the Magic into a 50-win club and helped propel them to their first Finals appearance in 1995.&nbsp;

In 2004, Lady Luck was once again on the side of Orlando as it landed the top pick and subsequently drafted Dwight Howard. The perennial All-Star center went on to win three consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards for the Magic and vaulted them to two straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, including a 2009 trip to the NBA Finals.&nbsp;

While it’s still unclear if the 2022 draft class possesses any players of that caliber, the selection order, which will give teams the first crack at attempting to uncover those gems, will be determined on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET in Chicago.&nbsp;

The 38th annual lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the 2022 NBA Draft. Drawings will be conducted to determine the first four picks. The remainder of the lottery teams will select in positions five through 14 in inverse order of their 2021-22 regular season records. &nbsp;

The process for that drawing is as follows: 14 ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 will be placed in a lottery machine. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. Before the lottery, 1,000 of those 1,001 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. All 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine, and they are mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is removed. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then the second ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The same process is repeated with the same ping-pong balls and lottery machine for the second through fourth picks.&nbsp;

The Magic have a 14-percent chance of landing that coveted No. 1 pick but could end up anywhere between one and six. Regardless of the outcome, in this particular draft class, they feel confident that they’ll end up with a player that can add to an already tremendously talented young core.&nbsp;

“Our goals remain the same, which are to develop these young guys,” said Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, who’ll be on stage representing the franchise in Chicago. “Everybody says you need stars in this league. Sometimes stars don’t always reveal themselves instantly. We’ve had guys that have had tremendous growth on this team, and I think that this team right now has a lot of potential. We’re talking about like two twenty-year-olds, twenty-three-year-olds, this a young, young team with everything in front of it. And they get along and they fit on the court, and they fit off the court. … We’ll find out (shortly) where we sit in the lottery, and it’ll be an exciting offseason.”&nbsp;

Numerous members of the Magic’s young nucleus are already back at work developing aspects of their game in hopes of making leaps next season. Among that group is Markelle Fultz, who’s excited to be able to focus this entire offseason on his craft rather than having to concentrate on rehab like he did last summer.&nbsp;

“I’m super, super, super, super excited just with the opportunity ahead with the group of guys that we have that get along,” he explained after one his summer sessions. “I’m looking forward to the draft to see who we bring in new and just going into (next season) running, building off the energy that we finished with this year. Although the record wasn’t what we wanted, we started to build great steppingstones, and the way we want to play. I’m just super excited to go into the year with a full summer under my belt, healthy. Just taking it one day at a time and making the best of those days.” &nbsp;

As a former No. 1 overall pick, he’ll be paying close attention on Tuesday to see where the Magic land. &nbsp;

“It’s hard to tell where the balls will lie, but I know wherever we land, we’re going to take the best option and what fits best for our program and organization,” Fultz said. “Again, I’m just really looking forward to seeing where we land, one, but also who we pick up. Just going to be watching, for sure.”&nbsp;

Fans can watch the lottery on ESPN. Those in the Central Florida area can also head down to Harry Buffalo for a watch party presented by Michelob Ultra and in partnership with “The Sixth Man Show” starting at 7 p.m. ET.&nbsp;

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Orlando Magic Hoping NBA Draft Lottery Luck Once Again Falls Their Way

Bennedict Mathurin, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound guard out of Arizona, is one of the best 3-point shooters in this draft class, particularly among players projected to be selected in the lottery. This past season, he drilled 83 triples, which were second most in the Pac-12. With unlimited range, defenders must play him well beyond the 3-point line. He took nearly 20 percent of his threes from 25 feet or beyond and made 39.6 percent of them. While most comfortable in catch-and-shoot situations – via spotting up or coming off screens (pindowns and flares) – he’s a decent pull-up 3-point shooter as well, although at times in college he settled for contested outside jumpers.&nbsp;

Great 3-point shooters typically play below the rim. But that’s not the case with Mathurin, a high-flyer who loves to get out into the open floor and finish with authority on fast breaks. He threw down several jaw-dropping jams this past season, including one during the Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament victory over TCU in the second round when he flashed into the paint and posterized the 6-foot-11 Eddie Lampkin. Another one of his highlight-reel dunks came against Oregon State earlier in the season when he went behind the back before flushing home a one-handed windmill. Defenders have a hard time staying connected to him because of how good he is moving without the ball (makes excellent backdoor cuts).&nbsp;

While it remains to be seen if he can become a better shot creator at the next level, the 19-year-old does get to the free throw line quite often. He took 178 foul shots his sophomore year, second most in the Pac-12. In the conference tournament championship game against UCLA, he went 13-of-15 from the stripe. Although he connected on just 22 percent of his shots when drawing a foul, he has no problem initiating and absorbing contact on drives. He also got bumped quite a bit while in the act of shooting threes.&nbsp;

Interesting about this year’s draft class is that most of the top prospects are above-average defenders, with Mathurin certainly being one of them. His 96.8 defensive rating ranked 13th-best in the Pac-12 this past season and his 36 steals were 16th&nbsp;most in the conference. At his height and weight, he should have no problem guarding ones, twos, and threes. If he fills out even more, he might be strong enough to handle some fours as well. Not only a stifling on-ball defender (when locked in), but Mathurin will also step into the lane and draw charges, fly in from the weak side and block shots, and use his instincts to deflect away passes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The overwhelming majority of Mathurin’s shot attempts in college were either from 3-point distance or within four feet of the basket. Only a third of his shots came from between four feet and just inside the 3-point line. He has a hard time generating shots for himself off the dribble because of his lack of creativity and shiftiness. When he attacks the basket, he relies more on power rather than craftiness. He’s more likely to jump straight into a defender than he is to stop on a dime and take a runner, floater, or mid-range jumper.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mathurin is more of a shot hunter than he is a play orchestrator. He averaged just 2.5 assists this past season and dished out fewer than three of them in 20 of his 37 games. He can get a little sloppy on his dribble drives and sometimes misses cutters or open teammates on the perimeter. While he did keep his turnovers in check, averaging just 1.8 of them in 2021-22, many of his passes were off target or were delivered a tad late.&nbsp;

Ceiling: Milwaukee Bucks version of Ray Allen, Jason Richardson

Others he’s like: J.R. Smith, Terrence Ross, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Strengths:&nbsp;3-Point Shooting, Off-Ball Movement/Cutting, Verticality, Initiating Contact, Transition Offense, Defensive Versatility, Rebounding

Weaknesses:&nbsp;Shot Creation, Ball Handling, Playmaking, Facilitating, Defensive Consistency

College Roundup:&nbsp;Improved his scoring average by seven points his sophomore year. Scored in double figures in 34 of his 37 games this past season, including twice erupting for 30 points. Named both the 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American.&nbsp;

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2022 NBA Draft: Bennedict Mathurin’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Anthony got off to a hot start in 2021-22 by scoring 20 points or more in 12 of his first 22 games of the season. In that stretch, he twice scored 33 points – first on Nov. 7 in a win over the Jazz and then again on Dec. 8 in a loss to the Kings. On Oct. 24 at Madison Square Garden in a victory over the Knicks, he pulled down 16 rebounds, the most by a Magic guard in a single game in team history. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder averaged 16.3 points and 5.7 assists, both team highs, as well as 5.4 rebounds.&nbsp;

The 7-foot Bamba averaged career highs in points (10.6), rebounds (8.1), assists (1.2), blocks (1.7) and steals (0.5). His 118 total blocks were tied for the fifth most in the league this season. He made 107 3-pointers, 11 more than in his first three NBA seasons combined. His best scoring performance of his career came on Jan. 19 against the 76ers with 32 points. That night, he set the record for most 3-pointers made by a center in Magic history with seven of them.&nbsp;

Cannady appeared in five games after signing with the Magic’s parent club in late March and scored in double figures in each of the last three, including on April 10 in the finale against the Heat when he posted 15 points, two shy of his career high. The 6-foot-2 guard, best known for his outside shooting, has bounced back and forth between Lakeland and Orlando the last two seasons. He was named the G League Finals MVP in the Disney bubble in 2021 after helping Lakeland capture the franchise’s first championship. A few weeks later while on a two-way contract with the Magic, he suffered a serious right ankle injury. Following a nearly year-long recovery, he resumed play in Lakeland, where he appeared in 16 games and shot nearly 47 percent from 3-point range.&nbsp;

Carter’s name was mentioned frequently in Most Improved Player talks toward the end of the season. That was certainly warranted, as the 6-foot-10, 270-pounder showed tremendous progress over the final couple months. Following the All-Star break, he averaged 19.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. Against the OKC Thunder on March 20, he racked up a career-best 30 points to go along with 16 rebounds. Several of his other top games came when he went head-to-head against the league’s premier big men. Against Joel Embiid and the 76ers on March 13, for instance, he recorded 23 points and 12 rebounds. A month earlier in Denver against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, he had 25 and 12. He also had a pair of 20-10 games against Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls.&nbsp;

Fultz made his season debut on Feb 28 following a nearly 14-month-long absence due to a left knee injury. Despite being on a minutes restriction in each of the 18 games he appeared in, he managed to score in double figures 13 times and had a pair of double-digit assist performances, including in the season finale against the Heat when he dished out 15 of them. Only two players in the NBA this season – Chris Paul and Trae Young – had higher per-36-minute assist averages than Fultz.&nbsp;

Hampton scored in double figures 18 times this season, including in the season finale against the Heat when he had 21 points. On Nov. 7, in a win over the Jazz, he made a clutch 3-pointer with 21.5 seconds left. By starting in 13 of Orlando’s last 18 games, the 21-year-old got a chance to sharpen his skills playing against stronger competition.&nbsp;

After a slow start, Harris got into a groove beginning in late November. He scored in double figures in all but one of the 22 games he appeared in from Nov. 27 until Jan. 14. His best performance – not just in that stretch but throughout the season – came on Jan. 8 when he erupted for 28 points in Detroit. In Indiana nearly a month later, he racked up 22 points and hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers to help the Magic rally past the Pacers.&nbsp;

The Magic’s elder statesman, Lopez appeared in 36 games this season and averaged 7.1 points on 55 percent overall shooting. He stepped up when the Magic were shorthanded in December because of the COVID surge. On Dec. 18 in Brooklyn, the 7-foot, 280-pounder posted 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic to a win over the Nets. Several nights later in a victory in Atlanta, he tallied 10 points and 11 assists, the second-most assists by a Magic center in franchise history.

Okeke tallied 22 double-digit scoring performances this season and twice had 20-plus. One of those games came right after the All-Star break when he racked up a career-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds in a victory over the Rockets. One of Orlando’s top defenders, Okeke recorded a career-best six steals twice in a span of less than a week in December.&nbsp;

Ross’ most memorable performance of the season came in the first week when he scored all 22 of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat the Knicks at MSG. That was the most points scored in a fourth quarter by a Magic player ever and fourth most points scored in any quarter. Tracy McGrady’s 25 second-quarter points on March 9, 2003 against the Nuggets is the franchise record for most points in a single period.&nbsp;

Although limited to 48 games because of injuries, Suggs made a big impact when he did suit up, particularly on the defensive end. The Magic’s defensive rating with the 6-foot-5 Suggs on the court was a team-best 107.8. Opponents shot just 43.5 percent from the floor with the 20-year-old as the nearest defender, one of the best marks in the league among first-year players.&nbsp;

Among rookies this season, Wagner scored the most points (1,197), grabbed the fifth-most rebounds (356), dished out the sixth-most assists (231), and compiled the fifth-most steals (68). The 38 points he scored on Dec. 28 against the Milwaukee Bucks were the second most by a rookie this season and were tied for the third most by a first-year Magic player ever. The 6-foot-10 German forward was on pace to play in all 82 games, but a couple of minor ankle sprains late in the season prevented that from happening. 

Wagner had a strong finish to the season by scoring in double figures in 13 of his final 18 games. His best performance, however, came in January when he posted a season-best 26 points to lead the Magic to a win over the Hornets. Another one of his top games came a little over a week later when he dropped in 23 points in a victory over the Bulls.

2021-22-orlando-magic-player-summaries-20220512

2021-22 Orlando Magic Player Capsules

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