NBA Mock Draft: Magic Projected to Select Indiana Center Kel'el Ware

Kel'el Ware, 20, averaged 15.9 points and almost 10 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers en route to making the All-Big Ten team. In 2023-24, the Orlando Magic ranked 25th in rebounds per game.

Mar 14, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) shoots as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Qudus Wahab (22) defends during the first half at Target Center. / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

ORLANDO — In CBS Sports' latest mock draft, the Orlando Magic use their No. 18 overall pick on their center of the future: Indiana's Kel'el Ware.

"There's been a lot of Ware buzz as of late, and while he's deemed a high-risk/high-reward prospect because of his wide range of outcomes, a floor-spacing five-man could be a nice long-term fit alongside the two-headed forward monster of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner," CBS Sports said.

Center is a sneaky need for the Magic. Goga Bitadze, who will be a free agent, started 33 games and averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game when he was in the starting lineup.

Wendell Carter Jr. averaged 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game across 55 games. A broken hand and knee injury limited him to his fewest games since 2020-21. Carter Jr. has two years and just over $22 million left on his contract.

Ware, 20, averaged 15.9 points and almost 10 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers en route to making the All-Big Ten team. Ware also shot 42.5 percent from beyond the arc, though he averaged only 1.3 attempts per game. Ware, who is a quarter-inch shy of 7 feet tall, was also All-Defense, averaging 1.9 blocks per game.

Ware's ability to rebound and the potential to space the floor with his shooting would address two vital needs for the Magic. In 2023-24, they ranked 25th in rebounds per game, 23rd in 3-point percentage, and last in 3-pointers made per game.

Related stories on the Orlando Magic

MOCK DRAFT PROJECTS TOPIĆ TO MAGIC: Could a knee injury force the projected top-five pick to fall to the Magic with the No. 18 overall pick? CLICK HERE
HOW WILL MAGIC APPROACH FREE AGENCY?: The Orlando Magic have drafted well and developed a young roster into a playoff team. Will they stand pat or look to add proven players via trade or free agency? CLICK HERE
ANTHONY BLACK & JETT HOWARD FACE PIVOTAL OFFSEASON: Orlando Magic General Manager Anthony Parker said Anthony Black and Jett Howard's path toward more playing time in their second seasons will be challenging — especially if the Magic invest in free agency. CLICK HERE