Magic big board: Who should they target in draft at No. 6?

May 18, 2023

The 2023 NBA draft is slowly approaching, meaning the Orlando Magic will soon be put on the clock to make their picks.

Since the draft isn't until June 22, Orlando still has time to interview prospects, host workouts and use those meetings to gather intel and finalize its draft board ahead of when they make its picks.

With the Magic having the Nos. 6, 11 and 36 selections, they’ll have to wait on what the teams ahead of them do to see who's available.

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Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-5 French big man who's considered a generational prospect, will presumably be drafted by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 1.

The Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons are also ahead of the Magic.

Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller and Amen Thompson are also expected to be top-four/top-five picks — just outside of the Magic's range unless they make a trade.

But there will still be plenty of good options for Orlando. Here are the top four prospects, ranked in order, that the Magic should consider drafting at No. 6:

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Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 218 pounds | Age: 20 | Wingspan: 7 feet

2022-23 averages: 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks.

The buzz: Thompson has the potential to be a game-changing defender because of his size, length, athleticism and feel/anticipation. He should have the capability to guard 1-3 and even small-ball 4s if needed. He needs to improve his defensive focus and consistently be in a lower stance, which will help his screen navigation, but the tools of being a high-level defender are present.

Thompson provides a spark in transition as a ball handler and filling the lanes. He's a really good cutter and lob threat. He's athletic enough to beat defenders off the dribble even when they give him space. He does a great job reading defenses as a passer in a variety of ways: pick and rolls, from a standstill and on the move. Thompson needs to improve his shooting. Defenders will sag off him. He also needs to improve as a driver, finisher at the rim and learn how to use angles to take advantage of his athleticism.

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Thompson has long-term upside as a creator — which will ultimately determine his ceiling — with his handles and ability to string together moves. He can be a two-way connecting wing. The development of his outside shooting will determine how well he can fit alongside the Magic's main ball handlers in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony.

Height: 6-foot-9 | Weight: 210 pounds | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7-foot-½

2022-23 averages: 15.1 points (47.8% shooting — 53.5% on 2s, 39.4% on 3s), 7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

The buzz: Hendricks is of the most versatile frontcourt defenders in this draft class. His quick first jump, timely defensive reads, athleticism and length make him a high-level shot-blocker. He's a high-level athlete who will also disrupt/block shots on the perimeter. He should be a switchable defender and legitimately guard 1-5 because of his mobility. He probably should play next to another big, at least to start his career, because he didn't show to be a high-level defensive rebounder for a player of his size.

He has shooting versatility — can knock down spot-up 3s and 3s off movement. Hendricks can be a scoring threat popping above the arc or rolling toward the rim in the pick-and-roll. He needs to improve his non-dunk finishing at the rim — his touch needs development and he can do better with embracing physicality. Not much of a playmaker and needs to improve his ball-handling skills to be a driving/self-creation threat.

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Hendricks could help create some intriguing two-way frontcourt options alongside Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.

Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 235 pounds | Age: 18 | Wingspan: 6-foot-8 1/2

2022-23 averages: 12.5 points (47.8% shooting — 57.8% on 2s, 34.3% on 3s), 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

The buzz: Whitmore is an athletic shot-creating wing who has the tools to be a high-level scorer. He had the third-highest max vertical leap at the draft combine (40 1/2 inches). Whitmore excels in transition and fastbreak opportunities. A strong, powerful driver with the necessary handles to get to the rim. He has good touch around the rim and has the burst to finish over the top of defenses. Whitmore's a really good cutter who knows how to play off the ball. He's a good spot-up shooter. Whitmore needs to improve as a passer and at reading defenses — can play with tunnel vision. He can also improve as a pull-up shooting threat.

He has the potential to be a high-level wing defender because of his speed, quickness and strength. Whitmore has active hands and is switchable but he should improve his defensive techniques and awareness.

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Similar to Thompson, Whitmore would give the Magic a more athletic option on the wing. He’d have to show he can do more than score offensively in an Orlando system that empowers players to be playmakers.

Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 240 pounds | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7-foot-2½

2022-23 averages: 11.2 points (46.5% shooting — 51.5% on 2s, 34.7% on 3s), 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1 steal.

The buzz: Walker is a strong and physical one-on-one defender. He's switchable and light on his feet, with the potential to guard 1-5. Walker is a good weakside rim protector/help defender because of his instincts, quickness and length. He could play alongside another big or be a small-ball 5 in certain lineups.

Walker was a reliable spot-up shooter for Houston. He should be able to space the floor and be a pick-and-pop threat at the NBA level. Walker has good touch on shots from inside the paint. He's a good passer from multiple areas on the floor, which should allow him to be a short-roll threat in the pick-and-roll. Needs to improve with creating his own scoring opportunities and be more consistent as an outside shooter.

Similar to Hendricks, Walker could help create some intriguing two-way frontcourt options for the Magic.

Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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