For more than a half-decade, there really have only been two days a year that have had significant meaning for the Orlando Magic and their fans: the lottery and the NBA Draft. Tonight is the night that we are rewarded for another losing season…or at least we hope we will be (please choose wisely, Weltman and Hammond!). In a few short hours a player such as Trae Young (yes, please! ), Jaren Jackson Jr. (I’ll take it), Collin Sexton (please, no) or one of many others will put on an Orlando Magic hat and represent the latest building block in the organization’s rebuild. It will no doubt be an evening of mixed emotions that could result in a divided fan base, as was the case last year when some Magic fans were satisfied with the Jonathan Isaac pick, while others were not pleased Orlando didn’t select Dennis Smith Jr. Opinions are split this year, as well, though the majority seem to bee hoping for either Luka Doncic or Young. In SB Nation’s final mock draft, Ricky O’Donnell has the Magic selecting Wendell Carter Jr., even with Young still on the board. But all has been mostly quiet in regard to Magic rumors. Be sure to check out the Draft content below and join the conversation as we prepare to find out who the newest members of the Magic will be.<doc-sep>The 2018 NBA Draft is in the books. Thursday night was a fairly busy one for the Orlando Magic, who made three total selections (6th, 35th, and 43rd). The Magic made a trade with Denver in the second round, swapping their 41st pick for the Nuggets’ 43rd pick (and a future pick). Here are some of my thoughts regarding how the Magic did this year in the draft, with grades I’ve awarded for each selection, as well as an overall draft grade: Orlando Magic: Overall Grade - B+ Mohamed Bamba , Center (6th pick) - Grade: A- , Center (6th pick) - Grade: A- Melvin Frazier , Small Forward (35th pick) - Grade: B+ , Small Forward (35th pick) - Grade: B+ Traded the rights to Jarred Vanderbilt (41st pick) to the Denver Nuggets for the rights to Justin Jackson (43rd pick) and a future 2nd round pick - Grade: B Mohamed Bamba: A- The night began with all sorts of rumors swirling coming from various sources around the league regarding Luka Doncic. It had all but been decided that Deandre Ayton (Phoenix) and Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento) were going to be selected 1st and 2nd respectively, and that brought all the focus towards the third pick (owned by the Atlanta Hawks). The Hawks had been linked to point guard Trae Young since his workout in Atlanta, and they were looking for a trade partner to move up (so they could move down and pick Young). The Hawks weren’t able to find a deal by the league’s 2:00 P.M. draft-day deadline that essentially locked the picks in from being traded until after the draft had started. The Magic and the Dallas Mavericks were the two organizations that were rumored to be very interested in moving up to select Doncic, a seemingly once in a lifetime prospect from Slovenia (who starred in the ACB Spanish League). Ultimately, it was the Mavericks who were successful in getting Atlanta to bite (who selected Doncic third), swapping their fifth pick and a future first round pick in ‘19 for the rights to Doncic. Dallas selected Young fifth, and then completed the trade by sending him to Atlanta. While many Magic fans may have been disappointed that the organization missed out on both Doncic and Young (two prospects that could have helped Orlando’s offense immensely), solace was quickly found when the Magic selected Mohamed Bamba. Bamba, a Top-5 player in the Class of ‘17 coming out of high school in Harlem, NY (ESPN five-star recruit, ranked 4th in class), was listed as a projected top-ten pick in this year’s draft by most draft experts throughout the ‘17-’18 season. Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks (second in the nation) per game during his lone season at Texas. Bamba helped lead the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament, and then declared for the NBA shortly thereafter. Bamba caught the attention of the entire league at the NBA Combine this past May, measuring in with an all-time combine record 7-10 wingspan (he’s 7-1, that’s a +9 wingspan). John Gonzalez from the Ringer wrote about Bamba working to translate his game to the modern NBA back in May: Former Texas big man Mo Bamba is remaking his game to fit the modern #NBA ahead of the draft. @_JohnGonz: https://t.co/bCSigHPvHg — The Ringer (@ringer) May 10, 2018 And then there was this: ‘I changed mechanics on my jump shot and I’m really seeing a difference... The ball is coming off my two guide fingers + feels really smooth...’ ~ Mo Bamba at our interview + workout with him in #LA, where he is training with #NBA trainer @DrewHanlen >> https://t.co/YQBd0gFDgv pic.twitter.com/psCPTO4I4E — DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) June 9, 2018 Look, (again) I realize that many fans were disappointed that Orlando didn’t address some of their needs (namely shooting/scoring/play-making) with their sixth pick. But it was the right pick. Bamba was truly the best player available at that point in the draft. The Magic could have opted for Collin Sexton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but those guys would have been a huge reach at #6 (in my opinion). We don’t know behind the scenes what was or wasn’t offered, whether trying to move up or move down. Bamba has a long way to go. He’s lower body is extremely thin. Strengthening his base is going to be a process that is going to take a few years. Bamba is a plus-rebounder and an elite rim-protector, but I’m still legitimately concerned that he’s going to be pushed around in the paint too easily. It’s not going to be a seamless transition into the NBA for Bamba. He’s going to be a lob threat, but how long will it take until he possesses the strength the finish through contact? And will his emerging jump shot translate in games when other players are on the court? But damn, how can you not be excited about his defensive ceiling? I know he’s not a perfectly clean fit next to Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon. Can’t pass judgement there yet, just have to see how it all plays out on the court. I know the center position is now pretty log-jammed on Orlando’s roster with Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo, and Khem Birch already with the team. But Vucevic has only one year remaining on his deal. And are we really worried about Biyombo taking time away from Bamba (or getting in the way of his development). “When it’s all said and done, I want to walk across another stage and I want to put on a jacket that has this little seal that says ‘Hall of Fame,’” Bamba said when asked last night about his goals as a pro. “There is a lot to do before (then). It’s a lofty goal, but the mindset that I am going to have to have to do that is going to be a special one.” ”There’s a lot of goals in between that. I definitely want to be defensive player of the year. I truly believe I can be that caliber of a defender very early on in my career.<doc-sep>Picking in the top-six for the fifth time in six years, the Orlando Magic selected University of Texas center Mohamed Bamba. After DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr and Trae Young went in the top five, the Magic took the best player on the board. Bamba, who projects as one of, if not the best defensive big men in the draft, will fit right in to the Magic’s core of Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon. The trio could form one of the best defensive front courts in the league, and make the Magic one of the best defensive teams in the league. Bamba possess’ a massive 7-foot-9 wingspan, and has some of the best defensive instincts of anyone in the draft. Bamba could have trouble defending in space, but with continued work on his footwork could become more than serviceable. SB Nation’s Matt Ellentuck wrote that Bamba is the draft’s most freakish defensive star. But Bamba doesn’t just force shot adjustments and swat away on the interior. He’s a threat from anywhere inside to the three-point extended. He reads the floor incredibly well for someone who has only played a handful of college games, and is an expert at hedging out to stop the ball. Add in his potential on the offensive end, and Bamba becomes an even more tantalizing prospect. He can step out and shoot the ball some, and is going to be a force in the pick-and-roll, as well as the lob game. The Magic currently hold two more picks in tonight’s draft at 35 and 41 in the second round.<doc-sep>ORLANDO – In yet another move that should greatly fortify their defense and length, the Orlando Magic selected high-flying shooting guard Melvin Frazier Jr. with the No. 35 pick of Thursday’s NBA Draft. Orlando then traded its second pick of the second round (Kentucky’s Jarred Vanderbilt at No. 41) to the Denver Nuggets and ultimately nabbed Maryland small forward Justin Jackson with the No. 43 selection. Orlando picked shot-swatting center Mohamed Bamba with the No. 6 pick of the night and then selected Frazier – the American Athletic Conference’s Most Improved Player in 2018 – with its first of two second-round selections. ``We had Melvin rated much higher than 35, so when he was there, we were a little surprised, but we felt it was trending that way in the last couple of days for whatever reason,’’ Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said. ``We didn’t expect him to be there at 35, but we consider ourselves fortunate that he got that far. He’s a very talented player and it’s our job to develop him the right way.’’ Jackson, a 6-foot-7, 225-pounder, was limited to just 11 games this past season for Maryland because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Like Bamba, Frazier and Jackson have expansive and impressive wingspans and pride themselves on their defensive abilities. Frazier has a 7-foot, 2-inch wingspan, while Jackson’s wingspan was measured at 7 feet, 3 ¼ inches at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. ``There are so many things that you need to be successful in the league, but length is a huge element of floor coverage and it has to go along with all the other elements you need,’’ Weltman said of drafting lengthy and rangy players. ``If you can have (length) and maintain skill level and all the other intangibles that you can list, you’d always rather have it. And when you start adding it up with a lot of players it starts to become kind of a forced multiplier.’’ Frazier, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound shooting guard, led the AAC in steals in 2016-17 (1.9 spg.) and ranked second in 2017-18 (2.2 spg.). His maximum vertical reach (12 feet, 1 ½ inches) was the highest measured at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in late May. Frazier, who will turn 22 years old in August, averaged 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists this past season for Tulane University while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from 3-point range. Jackson went into this season as a Julius Erving award Watch List choice, but his season was cut short by the injury to his shoulder. He averaged 9.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the Terrapins in 11 games. Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.<doc-sep>
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Mohamed Bamba poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted sixth overall by the Orlando Magic during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) The Orlando Magic took Mohamed Bamba with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft, adding a center with rim protection and surprising athleticism for a big. The Orlando Magic selected Texas Longhorns center Mohamed Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft, adding a player with impressive and record-setting length to a team that already features long and rangy defenders. The Orlando Magic selected Tulane Green Wave guard Melvin Frazier with the 35th pick in the draft and traded Kentucky Wildcats forward Jarred Vanderbilt to the Denver Nuggets for the 43rd pick in the draft. They selected Maryland Terrapins forward Justin Jackson with that pick. Mohamed Bamba is a 6-foot-11 center who measured with a NBA Draft Combine-record 7-foot-10 wingspan. His length is his most impressive attribute and he has the agility to move around the paint. He should make an immediate impact defensively. That is certainly what happened at Texas. Bamba averaged 3.7 blocks per game and 10.5 rebounds per game last year. Bamba had a +8.9 defensive box plus-minus. He will change games defensively. Bamba though also showed the agility and ability to step to the perimeter on both ends. He is a decent jump shooter and has remade his jumper to become a better 3-point shooter. The work he has put in with Drew Hanlen during the offseason has seemingly paid dividends. Although making a lot of 3-pointers in an empty gym is promising but not necessarily meaningful. Still, Bamba has always projected as someone who could grow into one of the best stretch-5s in the league. Someone who can pop out to the 3-point line just as much as he can play near the basket. Bamba will have to continue developing that 3-point shot. For now, he will be a solid defensive player and culture setter on that end. It certainly fits with the skill set Orlando already has with Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and coach Steve Clifford. The biggest concern with Bamba is his slight frame. He is not the best rebounder and can get pushed around on the block. He will have to continue adding lower body strength so he can battle bigger centers. Still, Bamba fits the Magic’s pattern for drafting. He is an ideal player for the team to build a defense around. The team still has holes to fill. But they were not going to fill them all in one draft. Orlando needed to take the best player available. At the very least, Bamba will change and set the team’s defensive culture on raw offensive ability alone. From there he can continue to grow and improve. The Magic continued that defensive theme in the second round, selecting Frazier in the second round. Frazier increased his scoring over his three-year career in New Orleans but made his name mostly on the defensive end. He was one of the best defensive players in the American Athletic Conference. Frazier averaged 15.9 points per game and posted good rebound numbers. At the NBA Draft Combine, Frazier measured with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. That was the second-longest wingspan among guards at the Combine. He uses it well. Frazier improved his 3-point shooting and made 38 percent of his threes after hitting less than 30 percent in his first two years. Like many of the Magic’s picks the last two years, he has a ton of physical tools and natural athleticism but a still-developing offensive game. Orlando continued to double down on this length theme in acquiring Justin Jackson in the second round. Jackson averaged 9.8 points per game last year as he struggled to build off a promising freshman year. His shooting dipped below 30 percent from beyond the arc. Once again, though, Jackson measured out extremely well. He had a 7-foot-3 wingspan at 6-foot-6 with shoes. He is a better shooter than what he showed in his final season with the Terrapins. It is clear that theme of length is persisting with this team.