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The Orlando Magic have been rewarded for their poor performance this season by receiving the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. This is the fourth time in their franchise history that they have received the top pick and the first time since adding Shaq in 1992. The Magic are not as far out from competing as their 22-60 record may indicate. Their nucleus of young talent has begun developing and the pieces are in place for long-term success. Orlando also has a valuable chance to add another key piece to this year's draft.
It obviously is incredibly important to hit on the team's draft picks, especially at the top selection. This is considered to be a top-heavy draft with differing opinions about the top selections. There has been a great deal of buzz connecting the Magic to Jabari Smith with the first pick. While there is reason to believe in each top prospect, the Magic should not pass on the opportunity to take Chet Holmgren.
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3 reasons Magic must take Chet Holmgren with No. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft
Highest Ceiling
There has been buzz surrounding Chet Holmgren for quite some time. He is a true unicorn prospect with elite length, the ability to space the floor, and an impressive handle. The Gonzaga product averaged 14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.7 blocks. He has impressive defensive instincts and plays with more grit and toughness than one would expect. The 7-footer shot 60.9% from the field and 39.2% on three-point attempts in his sole year at college.
Holmgren's ability to step outside and shoot jumpers makes him lethal in the pick-and-pop game. This is becoming more and more important for modern big men. The 7-footer is a capable floor spacer and could serve as a stretch power forward at the minimum for the Magic. He is smooth off the catch and shoot and also flashes shot creation ability. The Gonzaga product may look odd in how he plays but this does not change his effectiveness.
Don’t let the Warriors’ Finals run distract you from the fact that high school Chet Holmgren stuffed Steph Curry at the rim, told him “gimme that sh**!” and crossed Curry over for a dunk at the other end. pic.twitter.com/ilTfwYjbTD
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 27, 2022
Risk is Overstated
There is no doubt Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique prospects to come onto the scene. Standing 7′ tall and weighing just 195 pounds, there are major concerns about if he can hold up at the NBA level with the Magic or any other team. This is a consistent issue with players coming out of the draft but is maximized in Holmgren's situation. The concerns about his frame should have more to do with his positional fit than if he can play at the NBA level. His talent level should be weighed more heavily as there are certain matchups he will need to avoid to start his career. The long arms and impressive defensive instincts also make him a massive threat to roam on the defensive end.
Holmgren possesses impressive defensive instincts and moves much better than you would expect for a player his size. While players attack his body often on the drive, he makes use of his 7'6″ wingspan to swallow up shot attempts. He likely will need to be paired with another big man to do the dirty work. This is not an issue with the Magic as Wendell Carter Jr would serve as a nice compliment down low. If Mo Bamba returns to the team he also would fit alongside Holmgren nicely. There are certainly matchup concerns against bigger and stronger big men, but his ability to shift on the perimeter is very appealing. It also must be kept in mind the matchup issues Holmgren creates for opponents.
While the concerns about his frame are legitimate, the concerns about his play are not. At his worst, he is a high-impact role player and with the right development Holmgren will certainly have his sights set higher.
Fit on Magic
While the Magic have a solid young core in place, there is no rush on contending. Chet Holmgren has the highest ceiling in the draft and they provide him the right opportunity to reach this. The 7-footer has all the tools you look for in a prospect, just not the frame you hope to see them on. Holmgren has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone and passing on him should also be regarded as a risk.
Taking Holmgren with the first overall pick would also indicate a promising direction the franchise is heading. The NBA has become increasingly positionless and this fits with Holmgren's playstyle. Many look at his inability to be boxed into a position as a negative, but this continues to become less important in today's game. Embracing this free-flowing roster construction would bode well for Orlando in the long run. It is time for the Magic to get weird.
