WIN-WIN: Desmond Bane DELIVERS for Orlando Magic . . . but picks CASH IN for Memphis Grizzlies

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:07]Nearly a year from the Desmond Bane trade, he undoubtedly delivered. But the draft lottery changes the equation.

[00:00:14]Today on Locked on Magic, you are Locked on Magic. Your daily Orlando Magic podcast. part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day.

[00:00:34]And you are indeed locked on Magic.

[00:00:37]Today is May 11th, 2026. My name is Philip Rosnik. I'm the senior writer over at Orlando MagagicDaily.com.

[00:00:45]Today's episode of Locked On Magic is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Head to fanduel.com to get started. On today's episode of Locked On Magic, we're going to talk about something we haven't talked about in a very, very long time. That's right, the NBA draft. We'll talk a little about some of the first round prospects that I've got my eye on in that late first round segment if the Magic do want to trade up. We'll talk a little bit about what the lottery results mean for the Orlando Magic, as well as how we evaluate the Desmond Bane trade. But I got to start with this and and and we haven't named officially our MVP of the season, but let's let this serve as that. You know, we're going to start I'm going to start my what went right, what went wrong on my Patreon page today. Um we'll do that for the next two weeks.

[00:01:33]We'll filter those. We filtered some of them already through the prism of the season. We'll continue to filter those um over the next next few weeks and then we'll do player evaluations. We we got a long way to go on top of all the news.

[00:01:46]But the NBA draft lottery was yesterday and obviously congratulations to the Washington Wizards. Congratulations Utah Jazz. The Memphis Grizzlies led it to third and that was their own pick.

[00:01:55]That's not the Magic's pick. So we'll get to that in a minute. But I want to make sure that we we all have the the proper context here because the Desmond Bane trade worked from the Orlando Magic's perspective.

[00:02:10]Desmond Bane was everything they could have hoped for and more.

[00:02:15]He delivered in every single way. And we talked about this after his big game against the Clippers after the All-Star break. We talked about this at the at the threequarter poll. I I already told you he's going he's he is my season MVP.

[00:02:27]I I'm not going to beat around the bush.

[00:02:28]See over. He was the season MVP for me.

[00:02:32]82 games played, was given the day off essentially that last game and begged to come back in to help the team try and win. And you know, again, we can blame Jamal Mosley for that one.

[00:02:42]He he gave the Magic the shooting that they hoped for. He changed the series against the Detroit Piston even even though he struggled in some key areas.

[00:02:54]But because they had to focus so much on him, it freed up Hallow Banker and Fronzog and frankly freed up Jaylen Suggs if he could hit a shot.

[00:03:04]The magic acquired Desmond Bane for really one main purpose and that was of course to make shots.

[00:03:12]That was of course to be a volume three.

[00:03:14]The kind of three-pointer the Magic frankly have not had since Terrence Ross since JJ Reic.

[00:03:21]The fact that he could do so much more that when France Vager went out he took on a bigger onball role just as he did with the Memphis Grizzlies when John Morant was out. The fact that he could do all those things was a bonus. And frankly, one of the things that the Magic's new coach will have to do.

[00:03:40]Undoubtedly, one of the things that has to happen is they got to figure out a way to get him more shots. Desmond Bane came into the season saying, "I'm going to take eight, nine threes a game." He took five.

[00:03:52]That's the fewest since his rookie year.

[00:03:54]5.2 to be exact.

[00:03:56]But nevertheless, despite this decrease in three-point volume, despite making only two three-pointers per game, the fewest again since his rookie year, volume has a lot to do with it.

[00:04:08]All of his numbers were virtually the same as they were last year in Memphis.

[00:04:12]20.1 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, 48.4% shooting on 14.7 attempts per game. Exact almost exactly the same as you took last year at Memphis. 39.1% from three, which is especially impressive considering where he started the season at and how it took him 10, 12 games to kind of get his rhythm back.

[00:04:36]Even in the playoffs, an area that he struggled with last year against Oklahoma City and their physical defense, Desmond Bane delivered with 18.1 points per game. He made a league high 3.6 six three-pointers per game. Shot 43.1% from three. And sure, couldn't make a shot inside the lane. Credit to Assar Thompson on that one.

[00:05:00]Wasn't nearly the playmaker at 1.9 assist per game. But that's also because a they had Assar Thompson on him, one of the best defenders in the league.

[00:05:07]Because as our Fred Cuckahill noted when we did our crossover pods, Desmond Bane was the one player that Detroit really feared. And when he if he could get going, if the Magic could figure out a way to get his scoring up, to get him going, that was what lifted the ceiling for the Magic. Why did they win game three? Because Despin Bait hit seven threes. Why were the Magics still competitive in that series? Because Desmond Bane's three-point shooting was a constant threat.

[00:05:36]And frankly, one of the big failures for Jamal Mosley this season was that they couldn't get him going more.

[00:05:45]One of the big failures for the Orlando Magic is that we got this little taste of Desmond Bane and it was wildly successful and wildly great for this team was that the Magic didn't get more that he did that he didn't take that next step or or the Magic didn't press that advantage more and more. That's one of the reasons why the needs a new offensive scheme. Needs plays specifically designed to get Desmond Bane threes. Um, need him to take more more threes, need things to set him up for more threes where like where were the Palo Bane pick and rolls with Bane as the screener. They ran a few they ran some different stuff to get him threes. Don't get me wrong. Like there definitely plays and specific plays designed to try and have him like fade out for threes or or ghost screen into threes. um that like the stuff that that Cleveland runs for Max Struce. Um and then Detroit ran a little bit for Duck Robinson, not a ton.

[00:06:45]But regardless of how you cut it, Desmond Bane delivered. He delivered everything the Magic asked for. And the reason the Magic didn't succeed this year was because of the injuries to their star players, because Paulo didn't have the year that that that they hoped for, and that other role players didn't quite fill in the gaps.

[00:07:05]Now, look, Desmond Bane is still needs some help defensively. We're we're not going to beat around the bush there.

[00:07:10]We're not otherwise.

[00:07:12]He was the guy that the Detroit Pistons targeted endlessly endlessly in their series with the Magic. He was the one that they were fishing out. And game five, certainly Kate Cunningham beat up Desmond Bane in the in clutch time. Game seven, Tobias Harris beat up on Desmond Bane. And you know, again, you add shooting, you need offense.

[00:07:38]You're gonna have to accept some weakness. And the credit to Desmond Bane is that he tries. He fights on defense.

[00:07:47]These are all small things because if you know things worked with the Magic, they wouldn't feel as big.

[00:07:55]If the Magic had a better offensive design, they wouldn't feel as big.

[00:07:59]This is this was the kind of trade and move the Magic needed to take the next step. And to be perfectly fair with the way that the Magic play, if they don't have Desmond Bane, if they stuck with Kavius Cwell Pope, they wouldn't have made the play.

[00:08:19]They probably would have made the play because Milwaukee was pretty bad, but they would have been the 10 seed to play it. They would have had to fight Miami to just get to the eight seed.

[00:08:30]Desmond Bane is a big reason why there is still a lot of hope. And to say none to say less than that, Desmond Bane is now a core player. Ask Magic fans who the three untouchable players on the roster are. Jaylen Suggs has been supplanted. And we're going to talk more about Jaylen Suggs here probably tomorrow.

[00:08:53]If not tomorrow, we'll talk about him this week. Um because that's a big question for the Magic this summer.

[00:08:59]Desmond Bane is a core player. It is hard to imagine a player who fit this culture, the culture that this team built so well, delivered so much and put this team in a position to succeed.

[00:09:16]There are still a lot of things to accomplish. There are still a lot of things the Magic have to do better.

[00:09:25]And there are still there's still a lot of work to do to get this roster to where they hoped Desmond Bane alone would take them.

[00:09:33]But Desmond Bane did his part.

[00:09:36]And it's hard to imagine being upset with anything that he did.

[00:09:43]But we do have some new context to think about the trade because it's been a year. The Magic gave up a lot for Desmond May. What the NBA draft lottery results say about who won the Magic Grizzly trade. We'll get to that coming up here in just a moment.

[00:10:06]But first, today's episode of Lockdown Magic is brought to our friends FanDuel, the NBA playoffs here, and every possession matters. If you're looking to get even closer to the action, FanDuel has a great offer to get you started. Right now, new customers can bet $5 and get 150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. That's right. Turn five bucks into 150 in bonus bets just for getting started. I like using FanDuel during the playoffs because everything I need is right there in one place. You can check stats, trends, matchups before making your picks, which makes the whole experience feel a lot more informed. Whether you're looking at player props or just following your favorite stars, it adds another level of excitement to every game. With FanDuel, you can literally look at everything trying to figure out who's going Eastern Conference. And now that we are down to three teams, thanks for playing the Philadelphia 76ers.

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[00:11:18]You can look at games tonight. Of course, the Pistons three and a half point underdogs. I believe this is the first time as an underdog this postseason. Three and a half point dogs at Cleveland. I actually think Detroit's going to win. I think that series is going to end fairly fairly quickly. And the Thunder 10 and a half points to advance to another Western Conference Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers. Head to fanduel.com to get started. FanDuel, play your game.

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[00:13:16]That's lockedmagic.supcast.

[00:13:21]The big story of the NBA is not the New York Knicks advancing to the Easter Conference Finals for the second straight year.

[00:13:27]Not the playoffs entering this critical point. Wolves Spurs tied at two. Thunder about to advance. The Cavs and the Pistons in a 2-1 battle as Cleveland tries to defend their home court. The story on Sunday was the NBA draft lottery. Huge win for the Washington Wizards with a chance to take AJ Debansa, Darren Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and people are baking a lake pusher Caleb Wilson. The Utah Jazz ended second. The Memphis Grizzlies started.

[00:13:52]Our friends from Chicago ended fourth. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies because obviously the reason we have not talked anything about the draft at any point little bit around March Madness I I previewed some guys to keep an eye on as far as potential prospects for the Magic. But for the first time since 2009, it's been a long time. For the first time since 2009, the Orlando Magic do not have a first round pick. Their only pick is the 46th pick in the draft.

[00:14:19]So you're looking at a midsec round pick. Not a lot you could do with that.

[00:14:24]The Magic of course traded their pick this year as part of the Desmond Bane trade. And so the lottery so the lottery results are forcing us to maybe reframe that trade a little bit and decide who won the trade and and and I'm going to make my warning here in a minute. The Magic's pick ended up being 16th.

[00:14:43]Remember there was that weird pick swap with Phoenix. Charlotte ended up with Charlotte ended up with um it was Washington, Phoenix, and Char Phoenix and uh Orlando had the three picks.

[00:14:56]Charlotte actually ends up with Orlando's pick. Orlando would have swapped with Phoenix. That's why they're 16th instead of 18th. So, the Magic would have had the 16th pick in the draft. That went to the Memphis Grizzlies. It is the second pick heading to the Grizzlies as part of the four picks that were traded in the Desmond Bane trade.

[00:15:17]Throughout the season, all Magic fans said FTP. And I don't need to tell you what that means if decipher it for yourself. AP language. But as I mentioned earlier, from the Magic perspective, the Desmond Bane trade was a win. Desmond Bane delivered everything that the Magic wanted to wanted him to deliver. The only thing that didn't follow was the wins. The Magic gave up a lot of draft capital thinking all those picks would be in the 20s, thinking we're going to be so good those picks won't have a ton of value.

[00:15:48]The Memphis Grizzlies were cheering hard for the Magic to lose in the playing tournament. And it would have been a disaster, a disaster for this franchise if the Magic had lost in the play tournament. Even though none of those picks moved anywhere, just a chance, just putting it out in the universe that that Magic's pick could go into the top four and deliver for the Memphis Grizzlies would have been a disaster.

[00:16:14]Still, the Grizzlies came out pretty well. Let me let me let me then present my theory about how to evaluate trades. The way you evaluate trades is it's not a direct competition between the two teams. like there are win-win trades and this is looking like a win-win trade for both sides.

[00:16:32]The question is what are the goals of the teams that are completing the trade?

[00:16:37]Why did they complete this trade? Well, the Magic went for Desmond Bane because they felt like they needed a high volume shooter who could create a little bit off the dribble to help them take the next step. Desmond Bane as a player fulfilled that. Desmond Bane was exactly what the Magic needed, but the team obviously didn't accomplish their goals. And there's a lot of hand ringing and a lot of stress this summer because the Magic know they cannot be a first round exit team anymore. They're stuck in apron. They're stuck in the aprons. They don't have draft capital.

[00:17:08]They have the draft pick next year. So, we'll talk a little bit more draft next year. They have their draft pick next year, but they're caught in the aprons and don't have an ability to a make another big move with draft picks because they spent the ball and don't have draft picks coming in to help reset themselves quicker.

[00:17:27]The Magic must win. We're all sitting here worried about the future because Magic must win. They cannot be an eight seed next year. They cannot be out in the first round again next year. If that happens, we're going to ask some big big questions.

[00:17:40]asking big questions. Even the thought of trading Jaylen Suggs is a huge question that only comes about because he didn't meet expectations.

[00:17:51]Desmond Bane did his part. Again, I I I am over the moon about that trade. That that that trade to me worked out perfectly with Desmond Bane. It's the rest of the roster. It's the rest of the questions that this team hasn't answered.

[00:18:07]The Memphis Grizzlies when they made that trade, everyone was a little confused because injuries were their excuse. I mean, are the Magic about to make that kind of a trade about to to to get to own someone's draft here in the next coming years?

[00:18:22]Maybe. Perhaps that's probably the direction this team will go when they do decide to tear things down.

[00:18:28]But the Memphis Grizzlies weren't fully committed to that yet. A year later, John Moran's probably getting traded this summer. Jiren Jackson Jr. got traded to the Utah Jazz. And now the Memphis Grizzlies enter with not just a really good rookie in Cedric Coward who they ended up trading the Magic's draft pick to move up to take. Cedric Coward, one of my favorite prospects in last year's draft, had a great year, finished fifth in rookie of the year voting. They not only have a good young player on Cedric Howard, they now have the number three pick. They're getting one of Boozer Peterson or Deansa, Caleb Wilson if they want him. They're going to get a very high level player in a very loaded draft with their own pick. They made themselves bad enough that they got the they got they got the number own pick and they add the 16th pick in the draft.

[00:19:18]You can listen to our friends at Lockdown Grizzlies. I'm sure they are over the moon about where they ended up in the draft. And I'm going to come out here and say too, their decision to trade Desmond Bane makes a lot more sense now. Didn't make as much sense 11 months ago, makes a lot more sense now.

[00:19:37]And I think that speaks to how we should evaluate these trades.

[00:19:43]The Magic thought they came out clear winners. And the Magic, I think, are very happy with the trade that they made. Now, whether it will be worth the immense risk, we're going to find out in the next couple years.

[00:19:55]But I think the Memphis Grizzlies should feel like they won that trade or that they did a very good job. They certainly did a very good job in that trade because now they have their next their next era set up whoever they draft this year. And I don't think Memphis is going back to the playoffs this year. I think they'll, you know, they're they they may not be eligible to be top four next year because of the new lottery rules, but I anticipate that the Grizzlies are feeling very good about their future right now. I anticipate that the Grizzlies, you know, between Zack E, Cedric Howard, their two draft picks this year, feel like they have a good young base. And in two years, when they get the Magic's next draft pick in 2028, they have a pick swap in 2029 and then a 2030 draft pick as well. When they get the Magic's next draft pick in 2028, it'll be another young player to add to their group to make them even better.

[00:20:42]Now, hopefully the Magic are in the conference finals by then, are drafting in the late 20s, and that's not a big deal that the Magic are losing that pick. the Magic continue to be a middling team, the four or five seat, picking in the low 20s, picking in the teens even, that only helps the Grizzlies and their rebuild a whole lot more.

[00:21:02]But the Grizzlies after Sunday's lottery should feel pretty good.

[00:21:06]And a deal that we initially thought was like, oh, the Magic didn't swindle. The Magic made a calculated risk. The Grizzlies made a calculated risk because they were still picking a direction.

[00:21:18]They've now picked a direction and they're reaping the benefits of the Magic's bad season. We'll go over some of the players that that that are going to be available in the 16 to 25 range here in a minute, but the Grizzlies should feel pretty good about where they stand.

[00:21:36]At this point, the Grizzlies probably great better in that trade than the Magic. The Grizzlies are probably happier with that trade than the Magic are. Not that the Magic are unhappy with that trade. I don't think the Magic are. I think Badger are very happy with Desmond Bane and would do that and and honestly they should do they should do that trade every time. It was the right move to make, the right risk to take with the rosters that they have. Maybe the Magic miscalculated how close they were. I don't think they did.

[00:22:00]They proved themselves pretty good.

[00:22:04]Desmond Baden was worth the risk, but there is clearly still work to do.

[00:22:14]Whereas the Grizzlies have set themselves up to be pretty good down the road.

[00:22:19]It's a win-win trade.

[00:22:22]I might have the Grizzlies slightly ahead as far as the goals they were trying to accomplish, whereas the Magic are still trying to accomplish their big team goal from acquiring Desmond Bane.

[00:22:35]Since we are talking draft, and we haven't talked draft very much this year, let's go through some late first round prospects that I think the Magic should have their eye on because we're not going to forget the draft. The draft is still happening. Let's talk about who the Magic should be targeting if they want to trade back into the first round.

[00:22:52]We'll get to that coming up here in just a moment.

[00:23:00]But first, today's episode of Lockdown Magic is brought to you by our friends over at Rocket Money. If you've ever opened your bank account and thought, "Where did all my money go?" You're not alone. Keeping track of subscription bills could get overwhelming fast.

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[00:23:53]That's rocketmoney.com/ We have obviously not talked a lot about the NBA draft. Again, for the first time since 2009, the Magic do not have a first round pick. Now, they did trade a first round pick in what, 2016. Um, we don't talk about that deal very often.

[00:24:19]We don't want to talk about that deal very often, although it did get us Terence Ross. So, Terence Ross was cool.

[00:24:24]um that they still made the pick. That that's the distinction. For the first time since 2009, the Orlando Magic enter the NBA draft without a first round pick. The only pick that they have in this year's draft is the number 46 pick in the second round. Draft night's going to be very quiet for us or draft first night at draft night. We're going to watch like again, let me let me rephrase that. Draft night will not be quiet for the Magic because trades tend to happen around the draft. So, we will still be watching the draft. I I'm believe we won't be at the Kia Center for that or the Advent Health Training Center for that, but we will still be watching the draft. We will still be listening to the rumors, keeping our ear to the grindstone. Draft night is still going to be very, very busy for the Orlando Magic. Again, deadlines create action.

[00:25:08]There's no bigger deadline than the draft. Just a time where people are thinking about their rosters. They're wheeling and dealing, making moves, and I would suspect that the Magic will make a trade sometime around the draft or around free agency. Um, I am expecting trades, and if the trade's going to happen, it's going to happen right around the draft. Um, so we will have to pay attention and there is still the distinct possibility a first round pick. So, it is important to know some of the players and and I wanted to start kind of looking at prospects. We're not going to do like individual episodes on prospects because we just we just don't know. It's it's too up in the air to say where the magic would land. They're not trading into the top five to take one of those players.

[00:25:47]They're not tra I don't think we we'll do a Paulo episode here in a m in a minute. Another Paulo trade episode here in a minute. Um I don't think they're trading Paulo. They're not trading Fron.

[00:25:57]They're not trading Bane. Like the Magic I think still believe, you know, I take Jeff Welman at his word. I don't think he can rest on his laurels and say, "Oh, it's just injuries. We'll be fine." I do take Jeff Welman at his word to say like no like what we have works when it's healthy. We just weren't healthy. And I agree 100% with that notion and with that idea.

[00:26:18]So who should the Magic be focused on be thinking of, hey, if we could get back into the back end of the draft, who should we trade for? The number one guy that I would be looking for looking at is Cameron Carr of Baylor. Um, he is going I've seen him go anywhere from the late lottery all the way into the 20s.

[00:26:39]And so I think there's a there are a lot of guys like that. And this is because this draft is really heavy, is really good. There are a lot of guys like that.

[00:26:47]Carr last year at Baylor averaged 18.9 points per game after taking on a bigger role after two years at Tennessee. He shot 49.4% despite his increase in volume and 37.4% from three on 6.1 three-point attempts per game. I believe he was the guy that hit the gametying free throws against UCF. That might have been tuned to Yasfu, but Baylor I I remember watching that Baylor team. They had a lot of athletes, a lot of long armed athletes. Like Baylor knows how to recruit good defensive players. It's it's hard to play at Baylor if you don't play defense. Um he took 6.1 three-point attempts per game. He shot 80.1% from the line. And at 6'5 he had 5.8 rebounds per game.

[00:27:25]If you watch him play, this dude is long is a magic player. He is still very, very raw. He's played three years in college, but really only one year with a major role. He definitely needs to put on some weight.

[00:27:38]Every rookie does. Um, he's more of a straight line drive driver. He's not going to be a playmaker, but when you're drafting in the 20s, like I'll take a guy who has a defined role. And I think he I think the defense will take some time.

[00:27:55]I don't think he'll be a great defender off the bat, but he's got NBA size. He's got the determination and will to defend, which is a good place to start.

[00:28:04]And he's a quality three-point shooter off the quality three-point shooter off the catch. And someone that knows how to put the ball on the floor when it comes to it. Like I don't want him making plays. I don't want him passing so much.

[00:28:14]I don't want him running pick and rolls.

[00:28:15]I don't want him, you know, changing direction too much. line drive, line drive, driver, but he's been in a role where he's had to take a lot of shots, which I think is helpful. I I don't think the M I think the Magic have shied away too much from that. Go get me a guy that knows how to score. This guy knows how to score and is unafraid to do things with the ball.

[00:28:36]He checks the box. And we'll get to the combine measurements when they come out here later in the week. We will talk about length and size and all that all that good stuff because that's what we have to talk about during the draft.

[00:28:47]This guy just screams, "I'm an Orlando Magic player." Look, everyone else in the league, I think, is going to see that, too. If if you believe in his shot, if you believe in his ability to continue growing, because he is a junior, he is a third-year player, um, who kind of broke it big. If you believe in all that stuff, this guy has the juice. This guy has it.

[00:29:09]And I'm a big believer. I liked him. I liked him at Baylor. I liked what I saw when he played UCF. Um, I even like Judas who's a got to be like more back back end of the draft. He's a little more solid, less of a shooter, but good size, like good veteran guy, a good good guy in general. I think he's a freshman.

[00:29:26]Um, but Carr to me is is the guy if I am targeting a player to move up into this draft for, it's Cameron Carr. Uh, either that or Yel Lend. I I think Lendorg's gonna be gone. I've seen I saw some mock drafts have him in the 20s. Um, he's a lottery pick to me. Um, I love Yakel last year. I thought the Magic should have taken Yaxel. If if he stayed in the draft, I would have stayed in my spot to take Yaxle. Um, if I could, obviously I I do the Desmond Bane trade, so maybe not. But Lenderborg had a great season.

[00:29:55]Um, the other the other players I want to talk about, there's there's three more players I want to talk about, or two more players I want to talk about, more specifically, the Magic need a guard who can shoot off the dribble.

[00:30:06]like just plain and simple, they just need guards who are comfortable scoring and comfortably being on on the ball a little bit more. And there's two players that fit that bill late in this draft or late in the first round. The first is Bennett Starts of Iowa. Gator fans, cover your ears. Um although starts didn't have a great game in that game, but Starts Starts is such a good shooter. Um he is your prototypical scoring college guard. Like I think there are concerns about his size, concern about whether he could get a shot off at the college level or at the NBA level. That's all fair, but this dude was a bucket at at Iowa. And and Iowa built its offense around him and around his ability to score. And that's why they went to the Elite 8. Because in in college basketball, if you have an elite guard scorer, just a guy who can just take his man off the dribble, create space, and score, you're going to go very very far. And I think that's what was so successful about Bennett starts at Iowa. He just just a bucket.

[00:31:06]Just the guy scores a ton.

[00:31:09]And I think that's that's exactly what the Magic need. Again, like one of the things the Magic are going to have to do this summer is compromise a little bit. Uh and they compromise a little bit with Desmond Bane to be perfectly honest. Um but they're going to have to compromise a little bit. If they want more scoring, it might mean they lose some size and lose some defense. And I would argue that they're too small already. So, it's a balance.

[00:31:34]It's a tricky balance the Magic are going for. And yes, I know the Magic just drafted Jace Richardson, but I'm sorry, like I'm a little worried that Jace Richardson's size is going to keep him from being an impactful player.

[00:31:45]And that should have been the concern from the very beginning. Not that Jayce is a bad player, Jason's not a good dude or that he can't take that next step. It was just a non-factor as a rookie. And I think now the Magic need they need him to step up like he's going to have to him and Noah Penda are going to fill in minutes or more minutes their second years and it would not be good if they just get pushed down to the bottom of the pile again.

[00:32:08]So there's Bennett Sts and then there's Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson.

[00:32:12]Christian Anderson is actually considered probably the best shooter in this draft by by some by some scouts. Um he's a little bit on the small side size side and he is not a great finisher at the rim. Like one thing about Jace Richardson is Jayce Richardson was an elite finisher at the rim especially at his size. Christian Anderson is not that. Um 18 and a half points per game, 7.4 assists per game, led the Big 12 there. Shot 41 and a half% from three, 80.5% from the foul line, 7.9 three-point attempts per game. So he's hitting shots off the dribble. He's considered one of the best shooters in the draft. just does all the things that you like, but he's six foot two and not was not a great finisher at the college level in the Big 12. Elite conference with some big dudes there and some NBA level defenders there.

[00:33:02]But if the Magic need shooting and the Magic want to guard, again, you just drafted Jace Richardson, so maybe that's not the best use of that asset, but if you're moving up, this is a guy to move up for.

[00:33:14]This is a draft that is loaded with centers. And I'm a little leerary about going after centers. Um, especially young centers, unless they're just like crazy shot blockers and like super athletic.

[00:33:25]I would describe this this this year's center class is a little stiff. A lot of drop centers, not a lot of like at the level centers, which is I think more what the Magic are looking for. And again, who they hire as coach is going to determine a lot of these things.

[00:33:38]Um, the name that that keeps kind of getting mocked to Memphis at 16 that's worth looking at is Jared Quaintance of Kentucky. He played only five games this year. He's coming back from the ACL.

[00:33:48]That is a red flag for me. I I'm I'm a little scared to go after a guy with with that kind of injury history. But before that, he played a couple years, blocked more than a shot per game.

[00:33:58]Really considered a great defender.

[00:34:00]Acquaintance is probably the only center I I'd go for unless Ade Mara falls out of the lottery. Like Ed Mara is just a great shot blocker. 73. Like the Magic just need some size. They they they need someone big around the basket.

[00:34:12]But I'm honestly not super impressed with the the big class. Like if Chris Sak is there, he's more of a power forward, but he plays pretty close to the basket. Like I I'm kind of shocked to see Chris Sak Jr. of Houston um going late first round. I thought he'd be like a po like a just after the lottery guy.

[00:34:29]Um I'd be down for chasing Chrisak Jr.

[00:34:32]Um you know, I gota watch more tape on him. Houston's just they're always so good defensively. Kelvin Samson does such a good job with that program. Um I will inherently trust some Houston guys to to be good def defenders. Um Sak played mostly power forward. I think he'd have to play center at the NBA.

[00:34:47]He's 6'10. Um I I like KA Pete. Ka Pete's dropped though. He really struggled around the basket. He doesn't have much of a jump jump shot game. He's 6'8. He's a little on the small side, but Kapat is a great rebounder. Just just chases after boards like crazy. And so really really talented kid. I I don't think you should give up on him. I personally he should probably go back to college, play another year. He's gonna be next to next to the the the big setter from Arizona again. Um who I really like and would have taken at at at in the 20s as well. Um there's like the center crop like I was looking at the centers. I was trying to like winnow my list down a little bit and the center crop I was just like all these guys are just too stiff for what the Magic want to do. like they they need guys that are a little more mobile, a little more versatile, can play above the rim. That that's my big thing. My big theme for this summer, just just be ready for it. Magic need more vertical spacing. As much as they need more shooting, as much as they need to like stretch the floor horizontally and kind of two-dimensionally on the court, they need to stretch the floor above the rim, too. Like, one of the reasons why Anthony Black had such a big breakout season is he just decided, I'm dunking everything. And one of the reasons I think he struggled in the playoffs is that he felt like he couldn't dunk everything. Um Jamal Kane being able to throw lobs to him, being able to for him to do the dunk he had on Jaylen Duran.

[00:36:06]That's just not a skill the Magic had from very many players. Remember like France got hurt on an aliup attempt. Um the Magic need more above the rim play on both sides of the floor. This is just an offense like this. So even though they block a lot of shots, I don't think anyone's scared of attacking the rim and and there's just not a deterrent at attacking. Magic do a good job defending when you get there, but you still get there. And the more bites at that apple you get, the better. So, I do I do think my theme for the Magic this off seasonason is vertical spacing. Go get me go get me players that play above the rim, especially at the center position because that's our criticism of Wendell Carter is he's too below the rim. Um, and it's very difficult for him to finish around the basket after rebounds, especially because his second jump isn't great.

[00:36:51]I'm curious though, who are you looking at in the NBA draft? go ahead and pop those in the comments. I'll take a look at them and and we'll we'll revisit the draft. We're not we're not ignoring the draft this year like like we'll talk about second round prospects we get a little closer to the draft. Um and who the Magic might take with that second round pick. Um obviously we'll get a new coach by we'll have some inkling of where the Magic might go trade-wise. Um, I imagine we'll get some information from the, you know, from Jake Fischer and the people on the ground in Chicago, um, about what the Magic are thinking and how their coaching search is going a week into the process. But, um, obviously we're we're kind of out. We're kind of like observers of this draft right now because of where the Magic are situated and we'll get a better sense of which direction they'll go uh, as we get closer and closer. But those are some names to keep an eye on. Again, like I'm a big fan of Cameron Carr. Bennett starts as a big Magic fan favorite. I'd look at Christian Anderson, too. I'm not the biggest Jared Quaintton guy. I' I'd go Chris Act Jr. over him. Um, but again, like those those are some of the names do keep an eye on as we get as we start to like think the wheels start to turn a little bit on the draft. But that's going to do it for me today. I want to thank you all again for listening to today's episode of Lockdown Magic. Of course, find me on Twitter, philipr_momd, and on blue sky, philipr. You can subscribe to the podcast, Apple Podcast, search your tune in, Himling, Google Play, Spotify, Odyssey, and all by download podcast to your podcast enabled listening device. You can check us out on YouTube as well. Just search for Locked on Magic. For the latest on the Orlando Magic, be sure to check out Orlando Magicaily.com. You can find us on Twitter, omagic Daily. And for even more Orlando Magic content, be sure to check out my Patreon page, Orlando Magicub, at patreon.com/orland Magic Hub. Like I said, I'm doing my uh annual season recap, my what went right, what went wrong. that will go exclusively to my Patreon page. So, you can check that out there or you can check out our everydayer club. With the Everydayer Club, you get access to the adree audio feed of this show plus access to the lockdown discord server. Check it out at lockdownmagic.supcast.com.

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[00:39:03]Make sure you make your second listen NBA game night on Locked On NBA to get caught up completely with what's going on around the league and in the playoffs. But that's going to do it for me today. I want to thank you all again for listening to today's episode of Lockdown Magic. We'll be back again tomorrow. Tomorrow we're going to talk about Fran Vager's absence. We're talk about we're going to talk about how big of an impact Fron Vagger's absence had on the season as we continue to break down and deconstruct the season that we just saw. Unless something big comes up, we'll get to Fran Vager tomorrow. But until then, for Orlando Magic Daily and Locked on Magic, this has been Philip Rossman Reich. We'll see you again next time for another episode of Locked On Magic.