NBA Mock Draft Pairs Magic with Wembanyama 2.0
ORLANDO - Stop me if this sounds familiar. There’s a French center standing over seven feet tall that has some ridiculously high upside. No, I’m not talking about Victor Wembanyama, I’m talking about potential 2024 Orlando Magic draft prospect Alex Sarr.
Orlando was recently projected to draft Sarr with the No. 7 overall pick after the Perth Wildcat has been impressing scouts as of late.
“After a strong U19 World Cup, where Sarr’s athleticism and defensive playmaking consistently popped, he’s gotten off to a strong start in NBL preseason,” Bleacher Report writes. “He isn’t going to score in volume with the Wildcats, but NBA teams are bound to be drawn to the 18-year-old’s bounce around the rim, shot-blocking, quick hips in pick-and-roll coverage and flashes of three-point range.”
Some have speculated that Sarr has the potential to be the No. 1 overall pick if he continues to make strides in his game leading up to this year’s NBA Draft. Last season, Sarr averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game for Overtime Elite’s team, the YNG Dreamerz, while demonstrating that he can shoot three-pointers at his size.
Look no further than a stat line from one of his recent games to understand why he is worthy of the No. 1 pick. He had 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, and six blocks.
With a 7-5 wingspan, athleticism, a three-point shot, and a demonstrated willingness to play defense, Sarr would be a fantastic fit for the Magic, whose three projected stars of the future are rookie point guard Anthony Black, small forward Franz Wagner, and reigning Rookie of the Year, power forward Paolo Banchero.
Last year, Orlando’s starting center Wendell Carter had a strong season, averaging 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 36 percent from three-point range. Still, the unicorn-esque upside that Sarr would offer is something the Magic have been looking for since they drafted Mo Bamba back with the sixth pick in 2018.
The only thing that could stop Orlando from drafting Sarr is how highly he’ll likely be taken. This season, the Magic have playoff aspirations, and Sarr will likely be a top-10 pick in this draft, given his elite physical intangibles.
