The draft gods rang the fortunes for the Orlando Magic as they landed the no. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. This is the fourth time Orlando has won the lottery. Their most recent selection was Dwight Howard when they picked him first overall out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in 2004.
The Magic have some prospects to consider before making this potentially franchise-altering choice. According to most mock drafts, this 2022 class has three consensus names at the top — Jabari Smith Jr. out of Auburn, Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga, and Paolo Banchero out of Duke. Out of the three, Smith should be Orlando's choice on June 23. Here are two reasons why the Magic must take Jabari Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
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Magic 2022 NBA Draft Equals Jabari Smith Season
1. Magic need a franchise superstar
Jabari Smith has tantalizing potential with his size and skill set. He showed tremendous upside on both ends of the floor in his lone season in Auburn. In 34 games, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block. Though he shot just 42.9 percent from the field, he did shoot an impressive 42.0 percent from beyond the arc, averaging over two makes per contest.
Smith checks the boxes that a superstar talent could possess. Offensively, he is a three-level scorer that can hurt defenses in different ways. His standout skill is his ability to knock down the long ball, which is a premium in today's NBA, even for big men like Smith. The kid possesses a silky smooth jumper that is on-target in catch-and-shoot. At times, he has also shown capability to put the ball on the floor and shoot off the dribble, a skill that could raise his game to the next level. He's also showcased a smooth turn-around jumper at the post, which makes him a potential option down on the block.
Smith also possesses great athleticism for his size and his versatility allows him to get to his spots and pull up from midrange. With the crop of promising young guards the Magic currently have, he could fit well as a pick-and-roll partner with the likes of Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, and Cole Anthony.
On the other end, he has shown flashes of being the modern-day NBA defender at his position. Big men today should be able to go out to the perimeter and stay in front of shifty wings and guards. The Consensus All-American possesses great versatility and lateral quickness. Guards have a tough time getting around him. His length allows him to both cut off drives and recover when he gets beat off the dribble.
We have seen how a promising big man prospect can change the fortunes and direction of a franchise. We saw it just this past season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when they took Evan Mobley with the no. 3 overall pick. Because of his two-way upside, Cleveland has a bright future with Mobley at the helm. Perhaps the Magic can cash in on that fortune by taking Smith and giving him the keys to the franchise.
2. Jabari Smith fits Magic needs
Sometimes, teams make their picks according to their need. Luckily for Orlando, arguably the best prospect of this draft fits a need they have. The Magic do have some talent in their frontcourt, with the likes of Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jonathan Isaac.
Bamba and Carter had solid campaigns in 2021-22 after the Magic moved on from former franchise star Nikola Vucevic. Meanwhile, Isaac has been on the sidelines the last two seasons after suffering a torn ACL. Isaac is still just 24 years old and had a bright future ahead of him. But the Magic might not be too sure of his upside now considering he's missed the last couple of years due to injury. With that said, none of Orlando's players up front don't carry the same kind of star potential that Smith can bring.
And it's not like Smith will not be able to co-exist with Bamba and Carter. There have been rumblings that Bamba might be dealt this offseason because they landed the no. 1 overall pick. But maybe Orlando decides to give those three a chance to play together.
As mentioned, Smith has shown great versatility on the floor offensively and defensively. With that, Jamahl Mosley could experiment with his trio of big men and follow the Cleveland Cavaliers' blueprint of putting out a supersized lineup with Smith, Carter, and Bamba on the floor. Having those three could be a nightmare on opposing offenses due to their length and versatility.
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