Draft Prospects

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Josh Cohen

ORLANDO - Not that long ago, it was a foreign concept for frontcourt players to be primary or secondary playmakers. This was assumed to be the exclusive function of the point guard, with exceptions here and there.&nbsp;

That has significantly changed in recent years. Some of the NBA’s best playmakers occupy frontcourt positions such as Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, L.A.’s LeBron James, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and Orlando’s Paolo Banchero.&nbsp;

The Magic, in fact, have two high-end frontcourt playmakers, with Franz Wagner possessing that skill as well. If they opt to add another playmaker – someone who can orchestrate the offense from any position, backcourt or frontcourt – there could be several quality choices in this year’s draft at pick No. 18, or even No. 47.

Among the better ones in this draft class are Matas Buzelis, who played for the now defunct G League Ignite last season, Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, Serbian Nikola Topić, Pittsburgh’s Carlton Carrington, USC’s Isaiah Collier, Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, Colorado’s Tristan da Silva, and Weber State’s Dillon Jones.

While Buzelis and Dillingham are widely projected to be lottery picks, most, if not all of the others, should be available when the Magic are on the clock.&nbsp;

Topić has been a hot topic lately after partially tearing his left ACL in a finals game for Crvena zvezda against Partizan Belgrade in Serbia’s Adriatic League. Before the injury, many thought he was a lock to be selected in the top 10 in the draft. Now, because of his medical situation, that’s no longer a certainty.&nbsp;

Playmaking is his greatest strength. During his stint last season with Mega Basket, which landed him as part of a loan agreement with Crvena zvezda, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 6.9 assists across 13 games.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, back in the U.S. in the college ranks, Carrington dished out 136 assists, seventh most in the ACC. In his very first college game at Pitt, he recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against North Carolina A&T.&nbsp;

“Understanding the game just at a different perspective,” he said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago about his growth over the last year. “Coming from a high school league where I didn’t have to think that much – I just get the ball and score, whatever the case may be. Really thinking the game – I got a 25-year-old that can really shoot the ball, I got a 21-year-old that can catch all these (lobs). Understanding different roles, how to maneuver with an older team. Obviously, that’s what I have to get used to trying to get to the next level.”

While it was Bronny James that got most of the attention at USC this past season, the best player on the Trojans was Collier, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard from Atlanta. In 27 college games, he averaged 4.3 assists, fourth most in the Pac-12, to go along with 16.3 points.&nbsp;

As a senior at Wheeler High School, the school in Marietta, Georgia that Jaylen Brown attended years earlier, he was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the McDonald’s All-American Game MVP.

Kolek, a 6-foot-1, 197-pound point guard, had a great senior season at Marquette, where in 31 games he averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists. His 239 total assists were second most in the Big East and seventh most in the country. In each of the Golden Eagles’ first two games of the 2024 NCAA Tournament – against Western Kentucky and Colorado – he dished out 11 assists. He also had an 18-assist game on Feb. 21 against DePaul.&nbsp;

He feels that all his college experience will help him make an immediate impact at the next level.

“I’m more mature than a fresh 18-year-old that just had one year of college or came from the G League Ignite,” said the 23-year-old from Cumberland, Rhode Island. “Definitely feel I’m more prepared, more ready to impact winning right away, the second I step on the floor. Everything in life is experiences, and I feel I’ve had a lot of them leading up to this point.”

In addition to being a very good perimeter shooter, da Silva has a high basketball IQ, which translates into him making excellent decisions from the forward spot. That was glaring during a game against Miami on Dec. 10, when he flirted with a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Jones out of Weber State is similar in that way. The 2023-24 Big Sky Player of the Year, who has drawn comparisons to Josh Hart for his versatility, toughness and hustle, averaged a conference-best 5.2 assists to go along with 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder from Columbia, South Carolina posted one of NCAA’s most impressive stat lines last year when he racked up 30 points, 23 rebounds, nine assists and three steals against Northern Colorado on Feb. 29.

“I fit into (the NBA) in multiple ways,” he said at the combine. “When you take how I improved this year at Weber (State) in an on-the-ball role and things like that, I continued to establish myself as one of the best players in the country on a college level…I think I improved in a lot of things.”&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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Playmaking A Skill Several Of This Year’s Draft Prospects Excel At

ORLANDO - One of the Orlando Magic’s main weaknesses during the 2023-24 season was 3-point shooting. They ranked 24th in 3-point percentage and made a league-low 11 threes per contest. 

In their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, there was a stark difference in their shooting at home versus on the road. In the three games combined at Kia Center – all victories – the Magic shot 36.4 percent from downtown, while in the four games in Cleveland combined, they shot just 26.9 percent.&nbsp;

If they want to add a shooter or two in this year’s draft, there will likely be some quality options at picks 18 and/or 47.&nbsp;

Some of the better outside shooters in the class include Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter, Colorado’s KJ Simpson and Tristan Da Silva, Duke’s Jared McCain, UConn’s Cam Spencer, Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman, Washington State’s Jaylen Wells and Miami’s Kyshawn George.

Sheppard, Dillingham and Knecht will almost certainly be off the board before the Magic select at No. 18, but the others could be in play at either that slot or even possibly at No. 47.&nbsp;

Reeves, who played two years at Kentucky after three at Illinois State, shot an SEC-best 44.7 percent from beyond the arc on 188 attempts last season. The 6-foot-4 guard from Chicago scored in double figures in all but one of his 33 games in 2023-24, including against in-state rival Louisville on Dec. 21 when he dropped in a season-best 30 points. Although it came in a shocking loss, he racked up 27 points and made five triples against Oakland in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.&nbsp;

Even though he wasn’t very efficient, making 34.1 percent of his 220 3-point attempts as a freshman at Baylor this past season, Walter has the ability to shoot from long range off the dribble and after off-ball movement. He has a quick release and good balance when he squares up to the basket. His best collegiate scoring game came in Baylor’s first contest of the season on Nov. 7 when he erupted for 28 points against Auburn.&nbsp;

Since the college season ended, the 19-year-old has been training with Phil Beckner, a prominent development coach who also works out with Damian Lillard and other NBA players. &nbsp;

“He’s really just been helping me,” Walter said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “Dame is one of his strongest people mentally in the league. He’s just been giving me a bunch of books, a lot of videos…I just don’t think anybody in this draft class has the same mindset as me.”

Arguably, the most improved 3-point shooter in college basketball last season was Simpson, who went from shooting 27.6 percent from beyond the arc as a sophomore to shooting 43.4 percent as a junior. His 79 made triples in 2023-24 were sixth-most in the Pac-12. The 6-foot-2 point guard, one of three draft prospects out of Colorado this year, drilled six 3-pointers during his 30-point game against USC on Feb. 17.&nbsp;

Known for making big plays in clutch moments, Simpson connected on a game-winning jumper from the right baseline with 1.7 seconds left against Florida in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.&nbsp;

His college teammate Da Silva, who’s from Germany, was one of the best stretch fours in the country last year. The 6-foot-8, 217-pounder buried 39.5 percent of his 162 3-point attempts with the Buffaloes in his senior campaign. He was scorching from distance in the NCAA Tournament, going 9-of-16 in Colorado’s three games combined. Perimeter shooting is probably his second primary strength, though, with playmaking topping that list.&nbsp;

“My basketball IQ is one of my strengths – making the right reads, making the right passes. Obviously, my shooting as well,” he said at the combine. “And then my versatility. I can guard multiple positions. I can switch onto multiple positions. That’s all they do in the NBA, is switch is around. I feel comfortable out there guarding a lot of people.”

McCain was very erratic in his one year at Duke, but when he was on, there weren’t many players in the country more prolific than him. Twice, he knocked down eight triples – first against Florida State on Feb. 17 and then again in the Blue Devils’ Round of 32 NCAA Tournament game against James Madison on March 24.&nbsp;

Spencer played a big part in UConn’s national title run this past season. After three years at Loyola in Maryland and one at Rutgers, the 6-foot-4 sharpshooter transferred to UConn for his final college season, where he drilled 44 percent of his 225 3-point attempts. His 99 made triples were third-most in the Big East.&nbsp;

The Spencer family has quite an interesting sports background. Cam’s brother Pat, who was a two-way contract player for the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24, was one of the best lacrosse players in NCAA history. Cam was also a lacrosse player growing up, which he says helps him in basketball.

“I think a lot of footwork. The two-man game is a little different between lacrosse and basketball, but the pick-and-roll is a lot of two-man game in lacrosse,” he said at the combine. “Between the footwork, the vision and passing ability that you can take from both sports really translates into lacrosse as well.”&nbsp;

Another Big East star last season was Scheierman, who knocked down 38.1 percent of his 289 3-point attempts last season at Creighton. His 110 made threes were most in the conference in 2023-24. Before transferring to Creighton in 2022, he played three seasons at South Dakota State, where as a sophomore he shot 43.8 percent from downtown and 46.9 percent as a junior.&nbsp;

Wells, formerly a Division II college player at Sonoma State before transferring to Washington State, shot 41.7 percent from 3-point distance on 168 attempts in his one season for the Cougars. Twice, the 6-foot-8 forward connected on six threes in a game – first on Feb. 8 against Oregon State and then against on Feb. 22 against Arizona.&nbsp;

Originally from Switzerland, George has been one of the biggest mock draft risers the last couple months. For the Hurricanes last season as a freshman, the 6-foot-8 swingman sank 40.8 percent of his 130 3-point attempts. His best game in college came on Jan. 6 when he poured in 21 points and hit five threes against Wake Forest.&nbsp;

“I think I’m very versatile, so I try to pick up from different (players),” he said at the combine. “Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) handling the ball, Klay (Thompson) shooting, (Luka) Doncic pace…People often look at me like a 3-and-D guy. He just shoots the ball. But I think I can do way more than that.”

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2024 NBA Draft Class Filled With Quality Outside Shooters

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic won 13 more games in 2023-24 than the prior year, mostly because of their defense. They had the league’s third-best defensive rating and held their opponent to under 100 points 23 times, tied with Minnesota and New York for most.&nbsp;

If the Magic want to add another defensive ace to their roster in this year’s draft, there could be an assortment of options to choose from at pick No. 18 and/or No. 47, depending on who is still on the board.&nbsp;

Backcourt-wise, some of the better defenders in this year’s draft include UConn’s Stephon Castle, Providence’s Devin Carter, Virginia’s Ryan Dunn, Houston’s Jamal Shead, Kansas’ Kevin McCullar Jr., and Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman.

Castle, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound combo guard, helped the Huskies as a freshman win their second consecutive NCAA championship last season and sixth in school history. The Covington, Georgia native had a terrific final four, posting 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in the semifinals against Alabama and 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in the final against Purdue.

“I feel like it’s an advantage if you are (as) good (of a) two-way player as you can (be),” he said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “I feel like the past year I had, I had a great defensive year and I am trying to build on that.”

Carter, the son of former NBA player and current Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Anthony Carter, is a 6-foot-5, 195-pounder who had a breakout season at Providence last season as a junior. He started his collegiate career at South Carolina before transferring to Providence after his freshman campaign. In 2023-24 for the Friars, the 22-year-old from Miami ranked fourth in the Big East in steals per game with 1.8 of them to go along with averaging 19.7 points, a whopping 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and one block.

Twice during his sophomore year, he collected five steals, including on Jan. 1, 2023 against DePaul when he also recorded 22 points and four blocks.

“I think defense is going to get you on the court, whether you are making shots or not,” he said at the combine. “I take pride in playing defense. I especially don’t like my man to score. If we can get stops as a team, I think that’s the easiest way to score – in transition.”

Dunn, whose brother Justin Dunn played professional baseball for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, is a complete defender. Most unique about him is that at 6-foot-8, 208 pounds, he’s an exceptionally good shot blocker. Last season at Virginia, he led the ACC with 77 blocks, which also ranked 11th&nbsp;in the entire nation.&nbsp;

On Feb. 17, he blocked seven shots against Wake Forest. On the game’s final possession, with the Cavaliers up two, he forced the Demon Deacons’ Cameron Hildreth into a tough fadeaway jumper at the buzzer that rimmed off. He also had a six-block game against eventual Final Four participant NC State on Jan. 24.

Shead, a 6-foot-1 guard out of the University of Houston, ranked second in the Big 12 in total steals last season with 80 of them. He also was second in the conference in assists with 233 of them. In 2023-24, the Manor, Texas native was named both the Big 12 Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, which goes to the nation’s most outstanding defender.&nbsp;

“That’s my forte,” he said during an ESPN special on him during the season. “I don’t get buckets like a lot of guys, but a lot of guys can’t get buckets on me. That’s my calling card.”&nbsp;

Another Big 12 standout this past season was McCullar out of Kansas.&nbsp; The 6-foot-7, 212-pounder had a breakout season for the Jayhawks, averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.4 blocks. Like Shead, McCullar was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.&nbsp;

While best known for his outside shooting, Scheierman out of Creighton is as tough and gritty as they come. He’s one of the best rebounding guards in NCAA history. This past season, the Aurora, Nebraska native averaged 9.0 rebounds per contest, second most in the Big East. His 289 defensive rebounds were fourth-most in the entire country. In 2023-24, he had 17 double-digit rebounding games, including on March 2 against Marquette when he pulled down 16 of them.&nbsp;

As far as frontline defenders, some of the better ones in this draft include Alexandre Sarr out of France, UConn’s Donovan Clingan, Baylor’s Yves Missi, Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, and Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II.

While Sarr and Clingan are widely expected to be top five selections, Missi, Ware and Holmes are each projected to be mid to late first round picks.&nbsp;

Named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team as a freshman last season, Missi averaged 1.5 blocks for the Bears. Born in Belgium and raised in Cameroon, the 6-foot-11, 229-pounder moved to the United States in 2021 and ended up playing at two high schools – West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Maryland and then Prolific Prep in Napa, California.&nbsp;

Twice at Baylor, he rejected five shots, including on Dec. 20 against Duke. His 51 total blocks were third-most in the Big 12 last season.

Ware, meanwhile, is one of the better switch defenders in this draft. At 7 feet, 230 pounds, he’s capable of guarding all five positions with his ability to stay connected to players on the perimeter. An Indiana transfer from Oregon, he was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team last season.

“I’m able to move my feet,” he said at the combine. “Able to defend the perimeter, defending guards. I’ve been working on it this whole (pre-draft).”&nbsp;

All three years he was at Dayton, Holmes earned a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team. This past season, he was both the conference’s co-Player of the Year with Richmond’s Jordan King and the Defensive Player of the Year. He had 13 double-doubles in 2023-24, including against Arizona in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament when he posted 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

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There Are Plenty of Talented Defensive Prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft

2023 NBA Draft prospect Sidy Cissoko from the G League Ignite spoke to the media at the draft combine in Chicago.

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2023 NBA Draft Combine: Sidy Cissoko

2023 NBA Draft prospect Leonard Miller from the G League Ignite spoke to the media at the draft combine in Chicago.

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2023 NBA Draft Combine: Leonard Miller

2023 NBA Draft prospect Terquavion Smith out of NC State University spoke to the media at the draft combine in Chicago.

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2023 NBA Draft Combine: Terquavion Smith

2023 NBA Draft prospect Dereck Lively II out of Duke University spoke to the media at the draft combine in Chicago.

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2023 NBA Draft Combine: Dereck Lively II

2023 NBA Draft prospect Andre Jackson Jr. out of UConn spoke to the media at the draft combine in Chicago.

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2023 NBA Draft Combine: Andre Jackson Jr.

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