Orlando – With the NBA Draft Combine now over, the Orlando Magic are conducting in-person workouts and interviews to narrow down their options for the 18th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
It's impossible to predict exactly who Orlando will select. No one knows how the 17 picks so far will be determined, and even if they did, Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman is unlikely to give away his hand.
Even when Orlando had a lottery pick, prognosticators had a hard time accurately predicting the Magic's picks. Last year, Orlando had the sixth and 11th picks, but of the 22 picks included in media mock drafts, only two were correctly predicted. CBS Sports and NBC Sports correctly predicted Anthony Black to be the Magic's sixth pick.
And even though the Magic hold the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, only two of the 14 publications listed correctly predicted Orlando would select Paolo Banchero with the first pick.
So if you're looking for an accurate consensus, you might want to reevaluate your process, but if you're looking for names that might be worth considering, you've come to the right place.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at who the media is mocking as the Magic’s 18th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Jared McCain | G | Duke: “While shot-making has always been and will continue to be the driving force behind his offensive power and value, McCain's change of speed, footwork, deft finishing and effectiveness of vision in ball-screen situations this year have shown him to have even more on-ball potential with his creativity and feel.” Jonathan Wasserman | Read more
Jacob Walter | SG/SF | Baylor University: “He'll be labeled a safe three-and-defensive two-guard who can defend both wing positions. The lack of creativity and playmaking may only make it harder to imagine the team being worthy of a top-10 pick.” Jonathan Wasserman | Read more
Johnny Furphy | SG | Kansas: “Furphy, who comes from an athletic family in Australia, started 19 times for the Jayhawks, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range.” Gary Parrish | Read more
Johnny Furphy | SG | Kansas: “The Magic ranked among the NBA's worst teams last season in both 3-pointers made and attempted, so enter Furphy, who has the position versatility to play in a variety of lineup configurations and has outside shooting potential.” Jonathan Givony
Isaiah Collier | PG | USC: “There's a reason Collier was once considered a top pick, and it would be hard for me to see him falling any lower. He needs time to hone his shooting and decision-making, and if those skills don't improve enough this could be a miss, but his strength, explosiveness and passing skills are enticing.” Jeremy Wu | Read more
Zach Eddy | C | Purdue: “Purdue center Zach Eddy is a two-time National Player of the Year and a skilled low-post scorer, rebounder and rim protector, but some NBA talent evaluators believe he will be a defensive target in the pick-and-roll and will have a hard time guarding smaller guards on the perimeter.” – Michael Scott | Read more
Tristan da Silva | F | Colorado: “He compared himself to Magic forward Franz Wagner in a chat with HoopsHype and has been the highest-rated overall mock draft pick since the start of the college basketball season. The 23-year-old combo forward has filled up the stat sheet in every way, shooting 39.5% from three-point range over the past two seasons with Colorado, and NBA talent evaluators are confident he can fill a role as a stretch four.” – Michael Scott | Read More
Kaishaun George | SF | Miami: “The 6-foot-8 point forward has great potential as a player with refined ball skills, forward size and an innate feel for the game.” – Read More
Jared McCain | G | Duke: “McCain's shot-making and playmaking skills will be a perfect fit with Orlando's existing core.” Kevin O'Connor | read more
Jared McCain | G | Duke: “McCain was a talented shooter out of high school out of Southern California, and when he enrolled at Duke, he proved his shot could compete at the next level. The freshman guard made 41.4 percent of his 3-point attempts on nearly six attempts per game and 88.5 percent of his free throws.” Ricky O'Donnell | Read more
Tristan da Silva | F | Colorado: “The 22-year-old is highly regarded for his shooting ability, drive and ball-moving ability. He's a good cutter and is always on the move on offense, making him a great fit for the Magic. The Magic struggled to find playing time for their two rookies this season, so it will be interesting to see how the organization approaches this selection.” Cody Taylor | Read more
Isaiah Collier | PG | USC: “Collier didn't have a breakout season at USC, but he was a top-tier player coming out of high school who played well in the NBA and could potentially outperform his draft grade in a weak draft class.” Kristen Peake | Read more
Kelel Ware | C | Indiana: “Ware improved significantly in his sophomore season at Indiana, getting stronger with the ball and becoming a key part of the Hoosiers' impressive defense. The Magic invested heavily in guards last year and may be looking to add size and length to their frontcourt.” Kristen Peake | read more
Notes: The content on this page has not been reviewed or approved by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by Dan Savage are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or its basketball operations staff, partners or sponsors.
