Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart will not enter the 2013 NBA Draft, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, and will instead return to the Cowboys for a sophomore season. This stunning news alters Draft boards across the league, given that experts and insiders alike pegged Smart as a potential top-five selection had he elected to leave Stillwater. Instead, Smart figures to enter the 2014 Draft class, which is far more talented than the 2013 one.
Given their need for a young backcourt player, the Orlando Magic were certainly one team interested in Smart. In his first 2013 NBA mock draft, Chad Ford of ESPN Insider had Orlando selecting Smart with the second overall pick.
Smart was a popular player among the Magic's fans, many of whom believed his leadership, defense, and athleticism would bring Orlando back to respectability.
Smart averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and three steals per game as a freshman. His 40.4 percent shooting and 3.4 turnovers per game were red flags in his developing game, and his poor performances in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments certainly affected his Draft stock.
Looking for Orlando Magic tickets? Orlando Pinstriped Post has you covered. We invite you to follow Orlando Pinstriped Post on Twitter and like Orlando Pinstriped Post on Facebook.