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Leading up to the 2022 NBA Draft, everybody thought Jabari Smith was going No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic. Things started to get interesting, though, when the odds started to favor Paolo Banchero on Wednesday night. Then an Adrian Wojnarowski tweet on Thursday morning suggested it was indeed going to be Smith at No. 1.
Then right before the draft, the Banchero hype started firing up again, and he wound up being the top pick in an incredible bit of Magic misdirection. What makes this selection all the more mind-blowing is that Orlando never even had the Duke product in for a formal workout:
As reported on @Stadium NBA Draft Live show, sources say Orlando did not have a formal workout/meeting with Paolo Banchero during predraft process. Now: No. 1. pic.twitter.com/qZKow9guzI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2022
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer has more details about how things played out with the Magic and Banchero this week:
The sense among Paolo Banchero's camp after calls with Orlando personnel on Wednesday was generally split, sources said, on if the Magic were serious or just conducting due diligence. We're about to find out. https://t.co/QmO0YZ9o52
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 24, 2022
Even Banchero was shocked:
“I didn’t find out that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the Commissioner came on the stage. I can't believe it. I'm ready.”
Paolo Banchero on going No. 1 overall 👀 pic.twitter.com/VCXUyJwCs5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 24, 2022
This is pretty wild that the Magic didn't even have the No. 1 pick in for a formal meeting, but they must really, really like Banchero. There certainly is a lot to like about him after he starred for a loaded Duke team that made a deep run to the Final Four.
Banchero now slots in as a key member of an intriguing Magic rebuild that also features youngsters Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony, among others. It still could be some time before Orlando is a legit playoff contender again, but this is a fun young core that could grow really well together. Let's hope the Magic wind up being right about Banchero after this bit of pre-draft tomfoolery.
