The Orlando Magic have been blessed with the number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. But that also comes with the best kind of problem – they have first dibs at three prized prospects of the lot. The only downside is the pressure at calling which one of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr., and Paolo Banchero will ultimately have the best career.

There's a lot of buzz pointing to the Magic being completely infatuated with Jabari Smith Jr. out of Auburn. The 6'10” forward has a silky smooth stroke and will seamlessly slide into a lineup that features several capable ball-handlers in Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and even Franz Wagner.

The other favorite is Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren, who fits into Orlando's MO of drafting lanky, high upside talents. Holmgren seems to be the prospect that the Magic wish they had in Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba coming out of the draft.

But there's a legitimate case the it's the least talked about third option, Duke's Paolo Banchero, that could potentially be the best pick for the Orlando Magic. Given the circumstances picking at the top, it's certainly a gambit to select the player most mock drafts list as the consensus third pick. But that's the burden that comes with winning the NBA lottery.

Here are two (2) compelling reasons why the Magic must take Paolo Banchero first overall in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.

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2 reasons Magic must take Paolo Banchero in 2022 NBA Draft

Paolo Banchero, Duke, 2022 NBA Draft

#1 – Paolo Banchero can be the Magic's offensive hub

The Magic have some promise on their roster with Wagner, Anthony, and Wendell Carter Jr. Despite a down year from Jalen Suggs, entering a new campaign with a clean bill of health along with his pedigree at Gonzaga point to a bounce back season in year two.

But nobody on that roster projects to be a bona fide number one scoring option that their offense can center themselves around. Paolo Banchero has been groomed to be just that at the NBA level. He played the exact role to the tee for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, keeping the many moving parts of a talented Blue Devils offense humming while serving as the biggest threat to score.

He's far and away the most advanced offensive player among the top three. He's a gifted interior scorer with a legit 6'10” frame that's built for NBA physicality. He also works comfortably in the mid-range and can facilitate or score from the elbow area. And while he's not a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc just yet, he's far from a liability in that area, shooting 33.8% from deep consistently making one three per game to keep defenses honest.

Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren both have extremely high offensive ceilings for different reasons, but both aren't anywhere close to being a go-to option that can make his teammates better and can center their offense around. Banchero can be that guy.

With Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs being able to play off-ball more often, they can settle into more spot-up threes rather than create their own shot. Wagner, Carter, and Banchero all have the size and versatility to play off of each other, make quick passes, and space the floor relatively well enough for some magic to brew in Orlando.

The Magic need to take the safer pick for a change

When it comes to a rebuild, there's no guarantee that tanking and consistently picking in the lottery will result in a straight line path to contention. Look no further than the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, two teams that both remains in the NBA doldrums for a decade and now find themselves in drastically different positions.

The Kings and Suns have been taking swings at lottery picks for ages with minimal success. It was only when Phoenix showed signs of life during the NBA bubble, going 8-0 but missing the playoffs, did they entice a superstar talent in Chris Paul to make the move to the desert and turn their fortunes around.

The Magic could take Jabari Smith Jr. or Chet Holmgren and slowly develop them in the coming years. But the honest truth is that Orlando just does not have the foundation to develop such talents to their fullest potential. And even if they do manage to hone either two, it likely would take a couple of seasons at least for it to bear fruit.

We've seen it time and again with their swings at raw, yet tantalizing prospects such as Bamba, Isaac, Aaron Gordon, and Mario Hezonja. Their most successful selection of the past decade, Domantas Sabonis, was hardly a sexy pick but has now turned into a legitimate All-Star. There's a lesson to be learned there.

Paolo Banchero is the most established player of the three and has shown the most poise to be that game-changing talent at the next level. He may not have the ceiling that the other two have, but he could be the key to changing the team's fortunes entirely.