The Orlando Magic entered the NBA Draft's as the favorites to use the first pick on Auburn's Jabari Smith. While Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren seemed to also have a shot at hearing his name called first, the consensus belief seemed to be that the Auburn product was headed to Disney World.
Then, Duke's Paolo Banchero made an overnight surge in Las Vegas, as the odds shifted in his favor to become the NBA Draft's first pick. No wonder Vegas is undefeated. That's exactly how things played out on draft night, with the Magic selecting Banchero first overall, shocking the NBA world in the process.
They followed that up by selecting Michigan forward Caleb Houstan with the 32nd pick in the second round. So, how did the Magic really do on draft night?
Were they right to make Banchero the number-one pick? That's what we'll assess here.
Without further ado, here are grades for each pick made by the Magic in the NBA Draft.
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Magic 2022 NBA Draft Grades
Round 1, Pick 1- F Paolo Banchero (Duke)
Grade: A-
This was a shock for many, but maybe it shouldn't have been. Paolo Banchero looked like the best freshman in college all year long, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game while being named the ACC Rookie of the Year.
At 6-10 and 250 pounds, he didn't have any of the physical concerns that surrounded Holmgren's profile and seemed to be a more well-rounded offensive player than Smith. Banchero might not be the defender that his fellow prospects are, though he is the most likely to step into his new environment and immediately become his team's best scorer.
The Duke product is capable of scoring in a variety of ways, be it at the rim, in the mid-range or even from beyond the arc, though he was a bit inconsistent as a long-range shooter.
With Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Banchero, the Magic suddenly have a strong young core of players who complement each other well. Banchero will be an offensive force, the only thing he'll need to do to become a full-fledged star is defend at a capable level in the NBA.
Round 1, Pick 32- F Caleb Houstan (Michigan)
Grade: B
Another freshman, Michigan's Caleb Houstan flashed his skills in year one for the Wolverines, averaging 10.1 points while shooting 35.5 percent from the three-point line.
Houstan is a very capable three-point shooter, though shots from beyond the arc represented much of his offense, with little production coming from inside the three-point line.
The Michigan product has a chance to be an excellent wing defender in the NBA, given his lateral quickness and length. At just 19 years old, Houstan will have plenty of time to develop into the Magic's 3-and-D wing.
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