[ad_1]
The Orlando Magic, owners of the Nos. 1, 32 and 35 picks in the NBA draft, will have multiple chances to add to their roster on June 23.
After kicking off a rebuild in March 2021, the Magic already have significant young talent. Orlando has nine players who were drafted in the first round since 2017 signed to contracts for the 2022-23 season.
Nonetheless, the Magic have clear needs after finishing 2021-22 with a 22-60 record.
As the roster stands, Orlando needs a 3-and-D wing/forward — with an emphasis on reliable 3-point shooting — who has good size and length for their position. The Magic also could use another big/center, depending on what happens with Mo Bamba’s restricted free agency.
After taking a step forward in their pre-draft evaluations during the mid-May NBA draft combine in Chicago, the Magic are hosting prospects for workouts ahead of the draft.
This story is part of a series on players the Magic either interviewed or worked out in Orlando:
Jalen Williams (Santa Clara)
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 209 pounds | Age: 21 | Wingspan: 7-foot-2 1/4
2021-22 averages: 18 points (51.3% from the field — 55.1% on 2s, 39.6% on 3s), 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals.
Connection: NBA draft combine interviewee
Note: Teams are allowed to interview a maximum of 20 players at the combine and each player is allowed to interview with a maximum of 13 teams, according to a league spokesperson. The league decides which team speaks to the players. Just because a team didn’t interview a prospect during the combine doesn’t mean they’re not interested or won’t pick the player.
The buzz: Williams was one of the biggest winners from the draft combine. He rose up draft boards after his impressive physical measurements and showings in the combine’s scrimmages. After improving in each year of college, Williams was a first team All-West Coast Conference selection in his third season with the Broncos. He was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, which is given to the nation’s top mid-major player.
Scouting report: Advanced playmaker because of his selflessness, pace, vision and size. Makes good reads out of the pick and roll, one of the most common actions for an NBA guard, and accurate passes off the dribble with both hands. Good floater and finishes well at the rim through contact because of his length. Good pull-up shooter from midrange and on 3s, which will it hard for defenders to go under the screen on pick and rolls when Williams is the ball handler. Can be used in a variety of ways offensively — a secondary ball handler, spacing beyond the arc, coming off screens or handoffs. Improved shooter whose free-throw percentage (80.9%) suggests he’ll be reliable on 3s. Size and length can make him disruptive as an on-ball defender and as a help defender.
Isn’t consistently engaged or disciplined defensively even though the effort is usually there. Not an elite athlete and needs to improve lateral quickness. Will need to get stronger when defending in the post. Could also improve isolation scoring.
Fit: Williams is the kind of wing who’d fit ideally with the Magic, especially if his 3-point shooting is reliable. After an impressive draft combine, it’s unlikely he’ll slip into the second round. Orlando would likely have to trade both of its second-round picks to get into the backend of the first round if it wanted to take Williams.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
()
[ad_2]
Source link