Magic Starting 5: Orlando Mock Draft Nets Top USC PG

The Magic Insider lists five of the biggest NBA storylines in addition to relevant Orlando Magic news and analysis.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 23, 2023

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Orlando Magic

1. MAGIC MOCK DRAFT "With Orlando's frontcourt all but solidified, it looks to pair top-10 guard pick Anthony Black next to another facilitator here with Collier," CBS Sports writes. "Collier was briefly the No. 1 player in the 2023 class before finishing at No. 2. He's set to be the star attraction for a talent-laden Trojans team in 2023."

2. ALL-STAR FRANZ? "Wagner looks incredibly comfortable (and more than capable) as second-in-command of this young Orlando squad," Bleacher Report writes. "While most pre-draft projections pegged him as a glue guy in 2022, he has already cleared that bar and then some. A smattering of All-Star selections could absolutely be a part of his future."

3. TYUS JONES TRADE TALK "Orlando, for its part, might shy away from adding another guard," Bleacher Report writes. "But Jones offers enviable game management and has shot 36.9 percent from deep over the past two seasons. He can elevate the Magic's half-court offense, without torpedoing the defense, while playing alongside Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black or, at times, even Cole Anthony."

4. PAOLO'S OFFENSE "When the Magic landed last summer's top pick, the board broke just right for Banchero to be the obvious choice as both the top player on the board and the one who best filled their need," Bleacher Report wrote. "They had to find an offensive focal point, and the 6'10" forward proved up to the task. By season's end, he was a near-unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and just the 12th freshman ever to average 20 points, six rebounds and three assists."

5. OKC MAGIC? "Some good players are going to get cut from OKC and we all need to be ready to jump when that happens," an NBA executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith.

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Published Jul 23, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.