:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69651289/usa_today_15764043.0.jpg)
The waiting is over.
The Magic endures endless losing, an overwhelming number of injuries, and a mid-season fire sale just to get to this night. They didn’t get the pick they wanted, but they do have two of the top-eight picks, meaning they’ll hopefully be adding some valuable young pieces, and maybe by some miracle they’ll strike gold.
Here’s our final Orlando Magic Mock Draft Roundup of the season to see who the experts believe the Magic will take with the No. 5 and No. 8 picks....
ESPN
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
With two picks in the top eight, and the freedom to take a long-term view on a rebuilding process that just started at last year’s trade deadline, the Magic could go in several different directions on draft night. With that said, the league has largely locked into the idea that the Magic will start their draft night by selecting Barnes, who represents the type of culture-setter the franchise needs to help elevate all of its young players, including those yet to be acquired. Barnes’ winning spirit, toughness, work ethic, defensive versatility and playmaking ability would make him a seamless fit alongside the many parts already in place, along with his ability to play multiple positions.
No. 8 - Jonathan Kuminga
Once considered a candidate at No. 1 after a scintillating start in the G League Bubble, Kuminga’s stock has plateaued as question marks regarding his offensive efficiency and approach have crept into the conversation and allowed other prospects to surpass him. For the moment, it’s unclear exactly what his floor might be on draft night. The Magic got an up-close look at him in a private workout when he was still under consideration for the No. 5 pick, and they will likely be surprised to see him fall to No. 8 considering the explosiveness, scoring instincts and upside he brings to the table. While the fit might not be ideal, especially after drafting Scottie Barnes, with Kuminga’s ball-stopping tendencies, streaky shooting and defensive lapses, it would be difficult to see him drop much further at this stage of the draft before a team decides to move up and trade for him. - Jonathan Givony
SB Nation
No. 5 - Jonathan Kuminga
I’ll be honest, I don’t feel great about taking Jonathan Kuminga. And yes, as a forward, it might appear taking him could create another situation of position redundancy. But I think Kuminga (or at least the best version of what Kuminga could be) could potentially provide the Magic with an element they don’t have in their frontcourt moving forward: someone that can create isolation offense.
Like Barnes, Kuminga suffered from some miserable shooting inefficiencies last season. However, Kuminga’s numbers occurred over a much smaller sample-size, and against players much further along in their careers than the opponents Barnes squared off against at Florida State. It’s also important to remember that Kuminga re-classified relatively late in the process last year, effectively skipping his senior year of high school in favor of the NBA G-League.
He’s a big-time project, one that Magic would be taking considerable risk in drafting. Kuminga has gotten away with being the biggest, strongest, and most athletic player on the floor since he started playing basketball. He’s got a long way to go as far as gaining overall basketball/floor awareness. I think he can be a bit of a ball-stopper at times, and at other times he tries to force passes/action that is simply not there. I would have also liked to see him use his plus-physical attributes (6-8/220) to attack the basket more often than he did inside the G-League bubble. Too often he settled for contested jumpers off the dribble, or wild three-point attempts without properly getting his lower half squared.
But he was a kid playing against men. There was (or should have been) a learning curve with Kuminga last season - and he was playing through a knee injury as well.
Kuminga is as raw as they come, but there’s still a lot to like here. He’s a mammoth wing who could grow into a legitimate two-way player. Kuminga possesses shot-creation ability off the dribble, he can find cutters and potentially initiate pick-and-roll offense, and he’s got the athleticism/length to be a plus-defender in the NBA (if he can find a way to play with more consistency).
No. 8 - Moses Moody
Moody is exactly the type of prospect Orlando should be looking to pair alongside their stable of combo-guards and bigs. I love his range shooting upside and defensive potential moving forward. I wrote at length about the 19 year-old SEC Freshmen of the Year earlier this summer.
For context, Barnes (Oklahoma City - sixth overall) and Davion Mitchell (Golden State - seventh overall) were picked prior to my second selection, and I considered a couple of other prospects (other than Moody) at this spot as well.
James Bouknight was in play here, but I favor Moody’s superior length, strength, individual/team defensive aptitude, and perimeter shooting efficiency over the sophomore guard from Connecticut’s volume scoring ability (and more advanced handle). - Aaron Goldstone
CBS Sports
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
Orlando’s drafted its fair share of big forwards whose big weakness is shooting, so Scottie Barnes’ jump shot — or lack thereof — likely won’t scare them away. He’s got a great frame, can guard all five positions and boasts incredible court vision to compensate for his struggles as a shooter.
No. 8 - Moses Moody
After selecting a forward with a shooting problem at No. 5, Orlando scoops 3-and-D talent Moses Moody here to give this young roster another weapon — and he can shoot it. Moody’s got a reliable outside shot, defends at a high level and he’s got enough playmaking upside that, if it continues, he could be one of the steals of the lottery in this draft. - Kyle Boone
The Ringer
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
League sources have long expected Barnes to be Orlando’s choice here. Good idea if it happens. Barnes has winning qualities with versatile defense, contagious energy, and playmaking ability.
PLUSES
Incredible physical profile, with long arms and a huge, bulky frame mixed with quickness. Most importantly, he plays with a relentless defensive mindset. At worst, he’ll be a good defender; at best, he will win defensive accolades throughout his career.
Florida State used him all over defensively: guarding lead ball handlers, battling on the post against bigs, and playing the back line of the zone as a rim protector.
Plays point guard in college. A willing facilitator who pushes the ball ahead with long outlets and makes the extra pass in the half court.
Could be a playmaking threat out of dribble handoffs and the short roll. Solid open-floor playmaker who can throw darts across the court to corner 3-point shooters or hit the roller with a lob.
Takes big, long strides to the rim and barrels through defenders on drives while holding the ball in one hand to extend for layups. A freight train in the open floor who could become a major mismatch problem in the half court if he keeps advancing offensively.
Active offensive rebounder.
Competitor. Hustler. Crashes the offensive glass, races up the floor in transition, and sprints back on defense.
No. 8 - Jonathan Kuminga
Could Orlando really resist taking Kuminga here? Or would a team like Memphis or San Antonio trade up? Kuminga is raw and might end up not being any good, but his upside is undeniably high. He’s big. He’s strong. He’s a great athlete who can handle the ball. He just needs to continue learning how to play to get his skills to catch up with his athleticism. The Magic may want to gamble, but if they don’t another team will.
PLUSES
Excellent physical profile with a large frame and elite athleticism.
Has elite defensive potential if he ever decides to lock in mentally and improve his fundamentals. Capable of someday shutting down smaller, quicker players if he decides to play with intensity.
Talented but raw shot creator with a fluid handle. Gets low to the floor and takes massive strides to get to the basket in one or two dribbles.
Flashes advanced shot-creation abilities with crossovers, spin moves, and hesitations; with his explosive athleticism, size, and strength, he could be a handful for any defense if his skills develop.
Good first-read passer. Can make simple dump-off passes to cutters or find the roller. Has intriguing potential as a screener who could score on the roll or locate open teammates with a pass.
Ambidextrous at-rim finisher.
Active rebounder. - Kevin O’ Connor (click on link for ‘Minuses’ on each player
Bleacher Report
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
Sources say the Orlando Magic will take Scottie Barnes at No. 5 if the Toronto Raptors pass at No. 4. Drafting Barnes means building an identity around defense. The defensive IQ and switchability of Barnes and Jonathan Isaac could cause all sorts of problems for opposing offenses. But teams also see unique upside tied to Barnes’ ball-handling, passing, finishing and potential to improve as a spot-up shooter.
No. 8 - Franz Wagner
Rival teams expect Franz Wagner to go top 10, with the Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings both perceived favorite landing spots. He’s an easy fit for any lineup, with an ability to catch-and-shoot, play-make and guard multiple positions. The Magic could play him as a small or power forward, given his 6’9” size, perimeter skill set and defensive versatility. - Jonathan Wasserman
Sports Illustrated
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
Unless Barnes comes off the board at No. 4 to Toronto or another team that trades up, it’s not an exaggeration to say that pretty much the entire NBA thinks the Magic will take him here. The vibe from rival teams has colored this selection as something of a poorly-kept secret at this point. While Barnes doesn’t boast the type of scoring ability traditionally found in top-five selections, his range of impressive intangibles, elite passing skills and defensive acumen have built a convincing case. He would be a strong match for the Magic, possessing the length and versatility that fits their traditional draft ethos, and a galvanizing personality that could help stabilize their young locker room.
No. 8 - Franz Wagner
This Orlando pick has also been a bit tricky to project, given that there’s not necessarily a natural fit for their roster among the prospects available. Orlando can theoretically pick from the wings available here, with Wagner, Moses Moody and Ziaire Williams among those linked. If Jonathan Kuminga were to fall here, rival teams believe the Magic could opt to pass. Orlando could potentially move back off this pick for the right offer, but the asking price is thought to be quite high. Wagner has had a bit of a mysterious pre-draft process, as he opted out of the combine and has conducted workouts quietly, but is expected to come off the board in the Top 10. The word is that he did work out for the Magic. His well-rounded game has made him a popular commodity, with a mature approach on offense that isn’t predicated on volume shooting to add value. He’s an excellent team defender with the size to match up on a range of personnel. He’d be a nice match here as the Magic reimagine their roster, capable of playing either forward spot and fitting into a wide range of lineups. - Jeremy Woo
The Athletic
No. 5 - Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes is definitely the type of guy Orlando has often drafted in the past. The Magic have tried to find freak athletes with big frames, and hope the skills catch up to the athleticism at some point. That’s been a rough development job, but it also doesn’t mean that Barnes is doomed, by any means. While I think Jonathan Kuminga has a much higher ceiling, I think it’s safe to feel Barnes has a higher floor. And sometimes the risk assessment in picking between two guys like this ends up trusting the higher floor. Barnes also isn’t devoid of basketball skill. He doesn’t rely on ridiculous athleticism, although he’s a good athlete. He’s a smart player with good instincts, so it isn’t just “be explosive and make up for mistakes with that.” He’s going to be a playmaker at the NBA level, which is important for a forward who can’t really shoot (hopefully yet).
No. 8 - Moses Moody
Moses Moody’s stock has been rising, maybe even more so than what James Bouknight has seen. It’s just been a quieter rise through these draft boards and mock drafts. Moody was supposed to be somewhere in the middle of the first round as a really nice 3-and-D option. But eighth to the Orlando Magic appears to be where everybody is leaning. Moody has a lot to offer, and it’s all obvious on the surface level. He’s a very good defensive player who isn’t just that way based on athletic ability. He’s another smart defender, who thinks his way quickly through each situation. He can dictate so much. Offensively, he’s going to shoot well at the NBA level. He’s a legitimate knockdown 3-point shooter you have to hope becomes even better at some point. He can defend. He can shoot. I guess the question is just what else can he do? Maybe nothing? But he’s 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and definite skills on both ends of the floor. Pairing him with Barnes as their two picks in the top 8 is a phenomenal start to this rebuild. - Zach Harper