Day six of our 2017 NBA Draftmas special is here and it is time to look at the struggling Orlando Magic.

Summary

Expectations were fairly high for the Magic heading into the 2016-17 season, as they had acquired Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo at the beginning of the year. Under their new head coach Frank Vogel, the team finished with a 29-53 record, with an offense and defense both ranking outside of the top 20.

The Magic have yet to reach the playoffs since trading their star center Dwight Howard to the Lakers in August of 2012. In this trade, Orlando acquired six different players and a first-round draft pick, although the only player remaining on the roster from this deal is their starting center, Nikola Vucevic.

They moved on from Ibaka at the trade deadline this season, acquiring wing scorer Terrance Ross and a first-round pick from the Toronto Raptors. This move opened up playing time for the former fourth overall pick Aaron Gordon, who averaged 16 points, six rebounds and almost two assists per game after the All-Star break.

The Magic are a very poor team with an underwhelming roster. Their major pieces along with Gordon, Ross and Vucivic are guards Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton.

Fournier is a good wing scorer who can shoot the mid-range and three at an above average clip, while Payton is a ball dominant point guard who excels at facilitating and crashing the glass. With this core, the Magic clearly lack an All-Star presence, although with a top ten pick in the upcoming draft, they may be able to add a perfect piece to their puzzle.

Picks & Needs

The Magic have two first and second-round picks, allowing them to add a multitude of talent to their budding young roster.

First Round: No. 6, No. 25 (From TOR)

Second Round: No. 33 (From LAL), No. 35

Orlando’s needs include a go-to scorer, a big man presence, and some versatility. With the abundance of picks they have, the Magic have a great chance to address the majority of their needs this offseason.

Targets & Thoughts

Pick #6: Jayson Tatum, F, Duke

Tatum is one of the premier talents in the draft and has a real chance of falling to the sixth spot. Tatum lead the Blue Devils to a 28-9 record, while averaging 17 points and seven rebounds in his freshman season. The 6-foot-8 wing has incredible length that will allow him shoot over defenders, rebound and defend multiple positions at a high level.

His offensive skill set is primed for the NBA, as he can ball handle, pass and score from anywhere on the floor. One of the most important assets Tatum possess is his leadership ability. Along with senior Amile Jefferson, Tatum was the vocal leader for the Blue Devils in 2016-17. This will be integral for a Magic team that seems to lack a true leadership presence.

Tatum could stand to add some weight in order to bang bodies down low, although that is sure to come as he is only 19-years-old. He may have the highest potential of any player in the draft, and if he falls to Orlando at six, the franchise will have found their superstar.

Pick #25: Franklin Jackson, G, Duke

Franklin Jackson, to the surprise of many, decided to enter the 2017 draft despite being ranked as the 45th best prospect. He has yet to sign an agent, so he will be eligible to withdraw from the draft and return to Duke any time prior to the June 12th deadline. The freshman averaged 11 points, two and half rebounds and two assists per game.

Jackson is a 6-foot-3 combo guard who has shown a great ability to ball handle, drive the lane and shoot the jumper. He shot 54 percent from the field and 39 percent from three which shows he can be an efficient scorer. The majority of people look at Jackson as a point guard, although he is truly a scoring guard at heart.

I can see Jackson playing an integral role for the Magic, acting as a ball handler who can score from anywhere on the court. He, along with wings like Ross and Fournier could make the Magic a very successful and efficient scoring team.

Pick #33: Johnathan Motley, F, Baylor

Motley is a versatile big man who can score inside and out. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game in his junior season, while leading Baylor to a 27-8 record and a Regional Semi-Final appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Motley, standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 240 pounds, will add a needed size and strength that the Magic have lacked since trading Serge Ibaka. His size and athleticism will allow him to be a great defender and rebounder at the next level as well.

Motley can be a starter of the future, as he will be able to guard the three through five positions as he continues to develop. His offensive and defensive ability make him a prime target for the Magic.

Pick #35: Jonathan Jeanne, C, France

The 7-foot-2 center has flown under the radar as he is an international prospect playing overseas. Jeanne projects to be a solid rim protector and rebounder, although another season or two overseas would do wonders for the 20-year-old.

Jeanne would get bullied down low in the NBA at his current size, as he is barely 200 pounds, although a few years of development could turn him into an impact big of the future. His size and raw athleticism will eventually give him a huge advantage over the average center in the NBA.

With four draft picks, and only 15 roster spots, the Magic would be smart to use a pick on a player that they can stash away. Jeanne would be a viable replacement for Bismack Biyombo after a year or two of development overseas.

Conclusion

The Magic need to add as much talent as possible. By drafting Tatum, they will add a versatile wing who is a lethal scorer, above average defender and rebounder. With Franklin Jackson, the team can add a score first oriented guard, who can bring a different dynamic from current point guard Elfrid Payton. Jonathon Motley can add more size and versatility to a team in need of dynamic players. Finally, Jonathan Jeanne would make for a perfect draft-and-stash pick, as with four draft picks, the Magic may not have enough roster spots to add all four rookies to their roster in 2017.

Thanks for checking out the Orlando Magic 2017 NBA Draft profile and tune in tomorrow for day seven of NBA Draftmas to see what the Minnesota Timberwolves may do.

(Featured Image by Wikipedia.com)

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