“With the eighth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select…”

As soon as those thirteen words exit Adam Silver’s mouth on July 29, 2021, the future of the Orlando Magic will change forever. Many prayers will be performed before that daunting declaration is spoken, a phrase that will elicit powerful emotions from Magic fans after it is said. Hearts will tremble, tears will be shed, and hopes will be altered with that fateful phrase. But not because of it. The state of the Magic and its fans will not be determined by that phrase, but the name that will follow.

The player that name belongs to will have a tremendous responsibility. He will be a core member of the Magic for years to come, and the team’s success may depend on him and his talent. As if that wasn’t enough pressure, he will be taken with Chicago’s pick, a compensation given to Orlando after they parted ways with all-star center Nikola Vucevic. That player will have to prove that he was not just a consolation prize for Orlando, but the city’s award for winning that trade. In order to do that, in addition to guiding the Magic out of their second-straight rebuild, he will have to prove himself worthy of the eighth pick in this year’s NBA Draft. But which player will hear his name called with that pick? Well, we don’t know. No one knows. It’s unlikely that Jeff Weltman or John Hammond knows either, as this decision is not one that can be made so soon. But despite the uncertainty surrounding this selection, the Magic have plenty of options to choose from, assuming they choose not to trade the eighth pick. And after hours…and hours of research and analysis, I have compiled a list of eight players that can best carry out this task, from athletic anomalies to skilled shooters, from precise playmakers to disruptive defenders. Expect one of these eight players to wear pinstripes next season, because the Orlando Magic would be fortunate to have any of them. But they can only choose one…so who should it be?

SCOTTIE BARNES: Forward, Florida State University (Fr.)

Some of you may recognize this name, as our first player grew up only a few hours away from Orlando. Others will recognize it as the man who captivated basketball fans throughout the nation after leading his Florida State Seminoles to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Regardless of how you know him, you know that Scottie Barnes is good at basketball. Almost too good, though, as it will be unlikely that Barnes falls to the eighth pick in this year’s draft. He is highly coveted, and the Magic are more likely to select him with their fifth pick than anything. But he could fall down to eighth, and if he does, Orlando should strongly consider choosing him. He is, without a doubt, the best “point forward” in this draft.

What separates Barnes from other forwards in this draft is his defensive versatility, complemented by his speed, size, and athleticism. He has no trouble guarding and forcing turnovers from anyone on the floor, from the quickest of point guards to the most dominant of centers. Long, athletically-gifted defenders like Barnes excite the Magic’s front office when draft day comes around, but he is not just a defender. He is a gifted scorer off of the fast break, something that should intrigue the Magic, who finished second-to-last in points off of transition (according to NBA.com) this past season. He can run across the floor like a jet, and can land just as smoothly after finishing. He is more than capable of serving as a one-man fast break, but he often gets his teammates involved. Barnes is a brilliant playmaker with a knack for giving teammates the opportunity to score, largely due to his underrated ability to pass the basketball. I firmly believe that Barnes is the best passing forward in the league, which his many highlights will support. And if you’re curious enough to watch some of those highlights, you may discover Barnes’s most obvious strength: his unmatched effort and enthusiasm that makes him even more dangerous. He treats the court like a battlefield, where he is not just a basketball player, but a warrior with enough passion and energy to intimidate his opponents. But every Achilles has his heel. Barnes’s glaring weakness is his inability to shoot, whether it be from beyond the arc, free throws, or even soft touches around the rim. His subpar shooting could dissuade the Magic, a team that desperately needs shooting, and it will severely limit his production if it is not improved. But if it does, there is no telling how good Barnes can become as a basketball player, especially if he stays close to home and wears a Magic jersey in the process.

JAMES BOUKNIGHT: Guard, University of Connecticut (So.)

Every team needs a guy that can effortlessly put the ball into the basket. For the Magic, that guy could be James Bouknight, the Brooklyn-born shooting guard who gave UConn one of the Big East’s most deadly offenses. Bouknight is an elite scorer and shot creator, a skill that the Magic have lacked for quite some time. He is a fantastic isolation scorer, his hesi is tantalizingly deceptive, and he can navigate around defenders better than most at his position. These abilities allow him to create space for himself without much hassle, making him a threat from both mid-range and behind the three-point line. But his scoring method of choice is to attack the basket, which is a rare preference for most players his size. Bouknight doesn’t care. His freakish athleticism allows him to do so effectively. He has an explosive first step and is fast enough to charge right into defensive traffic without breaking a sweat. This aggression also explains his many powerful and electric dunks, which you wouldn’t usually expect from a 6’4” guard like Bouknight. But his opponents quickly learn to expect it, as well as his other ways to create his own shot. They have to. Guarding Bouknight is a chore for even the NCAA’s best defenders, because they know he can score from anywhere on the court. And he knows it too. In fact, Bouknight’s unparalleled confidence in his scoring ability is what influences him to take all of those risky shots, most of which go in. 

But sometimes they don’t go in. And that’s his biggest issue. For as important as Bouknight’s confidence is to his game, it also causes several problems as well. Most of his shots are incredibly risky, and in some cases, it’s a miracle that they even go in. This explains how he shot only 29.3% from the three-point line this season, despite how good of a shooter he is. His shot selection could potentially inhibit his production at the professional level, and improving it is a must. But his shots aren’t the only risks he takes. He believes in himself a little too much, often taking heavily-contested shots instead of passing to his wide-open teammates. This habit has led to several turnovers, which calls his playmaking ability into question. But that does not mean he cannot improve. He has the potential to be an excellent scoring option, playmaker, and even a great defender…if he learns to trust his teammates. But who better for Bouknight to trust than his former AAU teammate, Cole Anthony? Yes, Bouknight shared a backcourt the Magic’s 2020 draft pick, and Anthony has publicly praised his former teammate’s game on multiple occasions. But will they remain as former teammates? Jeff Weltman could very well answer no. If the two reunite in Orlando, it’s likely that Bouknight lets go of some of his habits and shines as a scorer while the Magic make good use of his shot-creating ability that they desperately need.

JALEN JOHNSON: Forward, Duke University (Fr.)

As stated previously, the Orlando Magic have been pitiful scoring off of transition compared to the rest of the NBA. They might want to address this issue, one that several prospects on this list can help solve, including Barnes and Bouknight. But if size and athleticism is what they seek to do so, then they should consider taking Duke’s Jalen Johnson with their eighth overall pick. Johnson is at his best when in transition, often utilizing the open court to take advantage of his outstanding finishing ability. What makes him so gifted off of the fast break is his explosive athleticism, to a degree rarely seen in most power forwards. Once he gets the rebound, the ball will likely end up in the hoop, but not always by his own hands. For as good of a transition scorer as Johnson is, he is just as good as a transition passer as well. He has very good court vision for his size, which allows him to make excellent reads when he cannot score. This ability adds a unique facet to his game that, if polished well enough, can turn him into an excellent playmaking forward. But Johnson is not limited to just the transition. In the half-court, he can cut well, set solid screens, and defend the paint well. He could make an excellent backdoor cutter in the NBA with the right point guard, potentially Markelle Fultz, by his side, in addition to a finisher.

So how do you stop Jalen Johnson? Take him out of his comfort zone. Johnson is not a particularly good shooter, with stiff mechanics and a reluctance to attempt them. He also does not shoot well from the free throw line, which suggests that his offensive potential is limited. You might look at his 44% shooting percentage from beyond the arc to refute this point, but that statistic is deceptive. He only played thirteen games this past season before suddenly leaving Duke, so it’s a small sample size from the shots he was even willing to take. But even in those thirteen games, he still left a lot to be desired. He may defend the paint well, but not outside of it. He looks helpless when defending the pick-and-roll, and his perimeter defense is inconsistent. Even his playmaking ability can be called into question, as he often makes poor decisions with the ball in his hands. He has a tendency to charge right into players, travel, and commit too many unnecessary fouls, all of which contributed to his disturbingly high turnover rate this season. He needs to be smarter with the basketball in order to perform well in the NBA, but if the Magic are willing to help him in that area, defenders will wonder how the pinstripes on his jersey will move so quickly before finding a way to score in transition.

KEON JOHNSON: Wing, University of Tennessee (Fr.)

Keon Johnson is another recognizable name on this list, as he recently made headlines during last week’s NBA Draft Combine. The Tennessee Volunteer recorded a 48” vertical, setting an NBA Draft Combine record. Such a feat was unheard of before last week! Not a single player before Johnson could jump that high! It was an impressive feat, but one that should not surprise us. Johnson had been taking incredible leaps and dunks all throughout his freshman season in college. 

It should come as no surprise that Johnson’s athleticism is his biggest strength. He is the most athletic player in this draft, an absolute force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court. On offense, Johnson uses his athleticism to charge through the paint, no matter how protected it is, somehow finding a way to make those shots. He is very, very fast on the open court, which suggests that he has great potential as a transition scorer. He can turn on his intensity at the flick of a switch, well before his defenders can react to it. This athleticism makes him a defensive juggernaut as well, something the Magic wouldn’t mind utilizing in their backcourt. Johnson is a ruthless on-ball defender, and he’s quick enough to stay glued to the ball handler wherever he is, despite the latter’s best (and usually unsuccessful) efforts to shake him off. Driving the lane won’t work. Setting screens won’t work. Getting past him won’t work. Whatever an opponent may try to do, Johnson will never leave him. He could truly become one of the league’s most relentless defenders one day, and if he maintains his unbridled effort and passion, he could be one of its most intimidating players. 

But Johnson’s athleticism can sometimes be a double-edged sword, as it can cause him to play recklessly at times. He is so fast that he often struggles to control the ball, often leading to too many turnovers. That recklessness often gets him into foul trouble as well, which opponents can easily bait, and the combination of those two issues can turn him into an offensive liability if he is not careful. And that is a genuine concern with Johnson’s game. Because while he has elite defensive potential, his offense can stagnate due to his over-aggression and his biggest weakness: his abysmal outside shooting ability. Johnson shot a terrible 27.1% from beyond the three-point line this past season, a statistic exacerbated by his reluctance to shoot and his awful shot selection at times. Johnson shot less than one three pointer a game, often opting for playing in the post instead, something that his smaller stature gives him a natural disadvantage in. He needs to make smarter decisions on offense and improve his shooting before he can unlock his full potential, but if the Magic help him do so, Johnson’s athleticism and energy could make Orlando a team to fear both offensively and defensively.

COREY KISPERT: Wing, Gonzaga University (Sr.)

Teams are constantly looking for the league’s next great shooter to add to their roster, and this year, they’re watching a certain player from Gonzaga University who can fit that label. But they’re not watching Jalen Suggs, as one would expect. They’re instead watching Corey Kispert, a four-year player who proved himself to be the best shooter in this draft. And it’s clear to see why. Kispert has the potential to become one of the league’s most accurate catch-and-shoot players. Once he the ball enters his hands, it’s almost guaranteed to go in the basket, an assertion supported after he shot a ridiculous 44% from beyond the arc in his senior season. He is an excellent marksman not just off of the catch, but while moving as well. Kispert knows how to get himself open, and can even shoot off the dribble if he cannot do so. Time after time, that shot will fall. His shooting ability should intrigue the Magic, who have not had a reliable shooter since JJ Redick, but that’s not all Kispert can do. He is a very underrated finisher and transition scorer. He can jump higher than most people give him credit for, and he can finish well even in tough defenses. Of course, his favorite transition scoring method is shooting, which usually goes in. He can serve as a reliable scorer who can instantly get hotter than a furnace, which makes him so reliable as a scorer and shooter. When in doubt, give the ball to Kispert. It’s probably going in.

All of Kispert’s strengths involve his ability to capitalize off of plays teammates create. But when he has to create those plays himself, he becomes less productive. Kispert is not a very good shot creator, as he is often unable to create space for himself to shoot. And that’s if he can get a shot off, as his insecure ball handling enables quick defenders to snatch the ball from him before he can do so. He can’t give the ball up to prevent that from happening either, as his passing decisions lead to more turnovers than the Magic would hope for. Outside of that, though, he’s a great offensive player. But his defense severely limits him. He’s not quick or athletic enough to stop naturally gifted drivers, many of whom he will have to guard in the NBA. If that doesn’t improve, he can become a liability on defense. He does have some glaring weaknesses, but most of those can be minimized if he plays alongside a guard that can consistently find him on open looks, as Jalen Suggs was in Gonzaga. Could Markelle Fultz be that guard? If so, then Kispert will become the Magic’s next great lights-out shooter, something they have craved for several years.

DAVION MITCHELL: Guard, Baylor University (Jr.)

The Baylor Bears took college basketball by storm this past season, capping off an incredible 28-2 record by winning the school’s first-ever NCAA championship. And they didn’t win it all by accident; the Bears were unstoppable on both ends of the court, as talent could be found everywhere on their roster. They were guaranteed to be good that season, but there’s a specific reason why they were great. Yes, the Baylor Bears would not have been as successful as they were without their breakout star guard, Davion Mitchell. 

Davion Mitchell was one of the best on-ball defenders in college basketball, and that still holds true. He is an absolute menace to whomever holds the ball at a given moment. Trying to score on Mitchell is futile, as if you somehow manage to get past him, he will run right back to you like he never left. Even college basketball’s most skilled ball handlers and shot creators struggled to get past Mitchell. Most players did. He is both an unstoppable force and an immovable object while on defense, but the only paradox with Mitchell is that he is so disruptive at only 6’1.” But his relatively small height did not stop him from forcing turnovers on taller, stronger players through his crafty steals or his inhumane lateral quickness. To avoid such a fate, most defenders had to settle for taking jump shots, even if they knew Mitchell was going to contest it. It’s not like they could just drive to the rim; Mitchell is so fast and so athletic that he would likely beat them there. And that’s another strength of his that should contradict his smaller stature: he is a gifted athlete. He is explosive enough to change his pace at the snap of a finger, which he uses to bully his way through heavy traffic. If you see an open lane against him, especially on the left side, fill it quick. Davion Mitchell will drive and score if you don’t. But if you manage to stop his drive, you’re still not done. His hesi and footwork are incredible enough to make him a talented shot creator, even with defenders on him. But he’s also an off-ball threat, particularly from beyond the arc. He improved his three-point shooting significantly this past season, and he’s quick enough to get open with minimal effort. This ability may show signs of his potential as an elite catch-and-shoot threat, which would certainly benefit the Magic, as if his hard-nosed defense and unmatched athleticism were not enough.

But despite how efficient he was (44.7%) from three-point line this past season, Mitchell’s shooting ability raises a lot of questions. Mitchell shot a poor 64.1% from the free throw line this past season, well below average for players at his position. It is often said that free throw shooting is the true indicator of a player’s shooting potential, and if that’s the case, Mitchell has a lot to improve in that area. That is, if he can even get to the line. He is hesitant to draw fouls, not even reaching the charity stripe once in nine of his games. But there’s likely a reason for this: not all of his drives will reach the basket. While his drives are explosive, they are predictable and easy to defend, as he relies on his left side far too often. His right side is not polished whatsoever, and if defenders can limit his speed, he can get stuck. But they don’t necessarily need to limit him. Sometimes he’s too fast for his own good. He has a very loose ball control, which leads to turnovers especially on the pick-and-roll. Mitchell may be able to contribute right away in the NBA as a secondary scoring option, but if he doesn’t get to the line or improve his ball security, that may very well be his ceiling. But he can improve with the right team. And if the Magic are that team, Mitchell can provide them with tough, relentless on-ball defense on every possession. 

MOSES MOODY: Wing, University of Arkansas (Fr.)

One type of the player that the Magic could use is a 3-and-D guy, a special type of player that can knock down shots on one possession and play phenomenal defense on the next. This draft contains several players who excel at each of these two areas, as few players can shoot the ball like Kispert or defend multiple positions like Barnes. But to find a player equally proficient at both? That isn’t so easy. Not very many athletes have the length necessary to disrupt opposing plays and the smooth mechanics to consistently make three-pointers. Those unique types of players are hard to find, but are not impossible. In fact, one of those players is in this draft, and could very well be chosen with the Magic’s eighth pick. You may recognize this player as the man who led his Arkansas Razorbacks to an Elite 8 Appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season: Moses Moody.

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly Moody’s biggest strength is, between his electric shooting and his merciless defense. He is an excellent knockdown shooter, especially after catching the ball, and he knows how to get himself open and shoot while moving or on transition. His release is silky smooth, his timing is impeccable, and he has the potential to become even better. Any team that needs a talented scorer, such as the Magic, should take a serious look at drafting Moody. Because no matter where he is on the court, his shots are likely to fall. Intense coverage is a must for any defender with the unfortunate task of guarding Moody, but not even that is guaranteed to stop him. He’s tall and long enough to make contested shots, even those with a hand in his face, as if he were wide open. The man can certainly shoot, but can he create shots for himself? With the right coaching, absolutely. Moody can jab step and pump fake well, showing flashes of his potential as a primary creator, and his exciting passes suggest that he could one day become a great playmaker. He is such a good scorer, but that may just be the tip of his offensive iceberg. Moody is an exceptional offensive rebounder for his size, even averaging 70.3% on putback shots this season. Not many 6’6” wings can say they can do that, nor they can say that they possess a vast 7’0” wingspan. That wingspan gives him the length not just to shoot over defenders on offense, but to disrupt passing lanes, block shots, strip the ball from opponents’ hands, and everything else that makes him such a good defender. He is very adept at recovering off of screens, and just as good at stopping isolation plays, especially with how much effort he brings on defense. Moody has the physical tools to become elite at on-ball and off-ball defense, which is impressive enough, but when you consider that he also has the physical tools to become one of the best shooters in the NBA, it’s apparent why he’s coveted by so many teams in this year’s draft. 

While Moody’s biggest strength is unclear, as he can both shoot and defend at a professional level already, his most glaring flaw is obvious: his poor finishing ability. He shot only 53% close to the basket, and he doesn’t have the explosiveness or athleticism to suggest that he will easily improve. The closer Moody is to the basket, the less productive he is on offense. It’s just simply not his strong suit. His drives are frequently met with turnovers due to his loose ball control, nor is he strong enough to power through heavy traffic and convert on tough finishes without committing a charge. An easy solution would be to utilize his passing ability while driving, but that too is an area he needs to improve on. He tends to force tight passes—some of which seem impossible to catch—whenever the lane is not clear enough for him to attack. It is not hard for defenses deflect those passes, and it would be even easier for professional defenders. His saving grace in this area is his innate ability to draw fouls, but NBA defenses will not award those so easily. Moody must become a better finisher, because that inability will limit his offensive potential as a pro. But if Orlando can help him with that, then the Magic will have one of those rare players who can dominate both offensively and defensively. 

FRANZ WAGNER: Wing, University of Michigan (So.)

Hey, that name sounds familiar, right? It should. Franz Wagner is the younger brother of Moritz Wagner, a center that the Magic picked up after the trade deadline. But Franz does not live in his brother’s shadow, far from it. In some ways, he’s even better. Wagner spent his two seasons at the University of Michigan as a primary defender, and he quickly became great at it. He is tall and long enough to guard multiple positions, something the Magic have never been afraid to experiment with come draft day. Wagner can be a nuisance to most ball handlers, and is just as impactful on the help side. He knows exactly where to be when defending transitions. He knows just how to disrupt any opposing pick-and-roll. He can do anything to stop opponents from scoring. Few players in this draft class are as versatile defensively as Wagner is, but that’s not all he can do. His keen vision plays off-ball offense exceptionally well, as seen with how well he can navigate the court on transition and cut to the basket in the half-court. He’s even had excellent shooting stints from the three-point line, and the Magic may utilize that ability to turn him into one of the NBA’s most lethal shooters.

Although his three-point shooting was good this past season, it was inconsistent. If Wagner learned to make his shots more frequently, he could potentially become a star in the NBA. Or at the very least, it would take attention away from his concerning on-ball offense. But it isn’t that Wagner can’t play on-ball, rather he’s too predictable. His left side is virtually useless; every time he attempts to drive it is almost always to his right. Even when he tries to go left, he reverts back to his right side. NBA defenses can easily put a stop to it, and if they do, he can find himself in a lot of trouble offensively. It’s happened many times in college, and it’s made him aware his limitations. But that is another issue of his. He is not confident in himself as a shot creator, often giving up open looks to his teammates in worse positions. A lack of assertiveness can be a serious problem for any player in the NBA, especially for someone like Wagner, who is not athletic or strong enough to power his way through traffic as a finisher. But if Wagner improves his confidence, all of that could be fixed. Maybe he needs to play with someone who he trusts to give him feedback and help him, like his older brother in Orlando. And if that happens, the Magic could make great use of Wagner’s defensive versatility and efficient off-ball play.

Well, there you have it. These are the eight players that I believe could be available at number eight and will best fit the Orlando Magic. And now that you know how they play, it’s time to make a decision. With the eighth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, who should the Orlando Magic select?

by Luke Scotchie