Key Decisions Loom For Magic After NBA Draft

With a surplus of guards, key moves appear inevitable for the Orlando Magic this offseason.

After taking two guards in the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday, change is likely on the horizon for the Orlando Magic. 

The Magic took Arkansas guard Anthony Black with their No. 6 pick and added another guard at No. 11 with Michigan's Jett Howard. 

Black was as well-rounded as it gets in his lone season as a Razorback. The all-SEC freshman was the only player in his conference to finish top 25 in scoring (12.78), rebounding (5.06), assists (3.92), steals (2.06) and blocked shots (0.61).

Black's IQ and defensive versatility stood out to Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley during the draft process. 

"His basketball IQ, his willingness to help everyone on the floor become better whether that's on the ball or off the ball," Mosley said. "And then his ultra-competitiveness. His ability to crawl into the ball defensively on and off the ball. Those are the things he brings to the table."

Jett, who is the son of Michigan men's basketball head coach Juwan Howard, added to Orlando's connection with Michigan and adds shooting to a team that finished 25th in 3-point percentage (34.6) and 3-pointers made per game (10.8). Howard averaged 14.2 points per game and led the Wolverines in 3-pointers with 78 made in 2023. 

Orlando's president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said he feels like Howard has untapped potential after saying that he played most of his freshman year injured. 

"We believe that there's more to Jett than he showed," Weltman said. "He's obviously young and has only played a year in college, but more importantly we feel like a lot of what he was going to show the second half of the season was masked with injury."

While adding two guards to a team that already has Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris seems redundant, Weltman views it differently. 

"We don't look at positions per se in that respect," Weltman said. "We're getting guys that can play multiple positions that I think there are a host of combinations can go with and the more options that he has the better."

With Black and Howard locked in with the Magic, it remains to be see what they'll do with Anthony, Suggs and Harris. Anthony could get his second contract with Orlando, though that could also make him expendable if they don't want to give him an extension. Suggs, who was the No. 5 pick just two years ago, has struggled to stay on the court, missing 63 games since he was drafted. Harris' age at 28-years old could also play a factor in his future with the Magic. 

Another possibility is the Magic's depth will make it tougher moving forward for rookies to see significant playing time like Weltman noted.

While it remains to be seen how Orlando will approach its crowded backcourt, the 2023 draft likely signaled that a changein personnel or approach is looming for a young roster with its sights on the playoffs next season. 

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