Armed with the fifth and eighth selections in this week's 2021 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic have the chance to add a pair of significant contributors to new head coach Jamahl Mosley's rotation. After blowing up their veteran core at this year's NBA trade deadline (Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier), the Magic are officially a rebuilding team.
That said, they have a reasonable amount of promising youth with Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Wendell Carter Jr. and healthy versions of Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz. This week they get to add to and complement that core.
With their pair of top-10 draft picks, the Orlando Magic should select UConn's James Bouknight (five) and Gonzaga's Corey Kispert (eight).
James Bouknight is a bonafide scorer
Bouknight can flat-out score. He's adept at getting to the rim off the dribble, sticks midrange jump shots off the dribble, and is a willing outside shooter. In his two seasons at UConn, which was split between the Huskies playing in the AAC and the Big East, Bouknight averaged a combined 15.0 points per game.
At 6-foot-5, Bouknight has the skill set and stature of a swingman. For the Magic, he can play the off-guard or serve as a high-minute sixth man in his rookie season. His pure scoring ability is a must-have for the Magic. Anthony showcased an ability to run an NBA offense, but he needs a backcourt scoring mate. The offense as a whole needs someone who can play in isolation, which Bouknight should be able to do at the next level.
Perhaps the deepest void in the prior Orlando core was that they didn't have a player who dominated in the halfcourt out on the perimeter or in isolation play. Bouknight would be the player on the new-look Magic core who could grow into such a player, improving an offense that was 29th in the NBA in points per game last season (104.0).
Him doing as such and someone like Anthony or Fultz taking the next step gives the Magic offensive pillars to the point where others can play to their strengths rather than having to play outside of their strong suits.
Corey Kispert gives the Magic a plug-and-play skillset
Kispert is a smooth player whose skill set should transition well to the NBA game. The forward was a deadeye shooter at Gonzaga who was able to put the ball on the floor and score, when need be. Across his final two seasons in college, Kispert shot a combined 43.9 percent from beyond the arc while shooting 87.8 percent from the free-throw line in his senior season.
In time, Kispert could grow into a legitimate “three-and-d” player. Furthermore, he has the skillset to become the recently traded Evan Fournier. Kispert's efficient shooting from distance and off the dribble could potentially lead to him being Orlando's starting small forward next season.
One way or another, Kispert adds much-needed shooting to a Magic team that was 27th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage last season (34.3 percent). Every team needs shooting no matter their competitive status. Kispert helps spread the floor for the Magic while giving them a player who's physically mature in that he played four years in college.
Utilizing a top-10 pick on a player with his precise skill set may seem like a reach at first glance. On the other hand, there's a lot of parity from a talent standpoint outside of the top five, and Kispert is arguably the best shooter in this draft. He's a justifiable top 10 pick.
James Bouknight and Corey Kispert fit and further enhance the rebuild
Fit is of the essence in the NBA, and James Bouknight and Corey Kispert are ideal fits in Orlando's rotation. Bouknight gives them scoring, and Kispert gives them shooting, which are two skill sets this rebuild desperately needs.
When putting all the presumed puzzle pieces together, the Magic have a compelling rebuild that could surprise in the standings. Anthony is a composed ball-handler. Fultz has made scoring strides in recent memory. Hampton is a speedster. Isaac is a well-rounded, two-way player. Carter can finish in the paint. Maybe Mohamed Bamba gets more minutes and produces.
All the while, this group will be coached by a coaching lifer in Mosley, who has 14 years as an assistant coach in the NBA under his belt. Maybe the Magic acquire even more draft and youth capital by moving wings like Terrence Ross and Gary Harris?
The Eastern Conference should be tighter next season with a handful of veteran teams capable of bounce-back seasons and young rebuilds taking the next step. Orlando has some time to become a playoff contender, but they should be a competitive team from the jump given their rotation variety. Bouknight and Kispert fit the bill for the Magic and improve their operation as a whole.
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