The Orlando Magic’s entrance workplace, led by president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and basic supervisor John Hammond, have proven an affinity for sure varieties of gamers in drafts.
They’re properly conscious of the repute.
“We’ve always liked long, lanky guys,” Hammond mentioned throughout a latest look on the Bart & Hahn podcast. “In today’s game, multi-positional players are so important. The game today, defensively in particular, is all about switching. Switching ball screens and screens off the ball. On the other end of the floor, it’s kind of the same way because the floor is so spaced. Multi-dimensional players are really important in today’s game.”
There aren’t any scarcity of examples of a Weltman-Hammond-led entrance workplace prioritizing size when evaluating gamers in drafts.
The most blatant instance is Hammond and Weltman spearheading the Milwaukee Bucks entrance workplace that drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo with the No. 15 decide in 2013.
Weltman, who was Milwaukee’s assistant basic supervisor from 2008-13, left the Bucks shortly earlier than the 2013 draft to turn into the Toronto Raptors’ govt vp of basketball operations.
They additionally led the Bucks in drafting Larry Sanders (6-foot-9 with out sneakers with a 7-foot-5 wingspan) in 2010 and John Henson (6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan) in ‘12. Hammond, who was the Bucks’ basic supervisor from April 2008-May 2017 earlier than becoming a member of the Magic, drafted Thon Maker (6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan) in 2016.
That appreciation for lankier gamers carried over to Orlando, with the Magic drafting Jonathan Isaac (2017) and Mo Bamba (2018) in back-to-back years.
Will their fondness for lankier gamers proceed to point out of their choices for the 2022 draft?
Gonzaga large man Chet Holmgren, one of many gamers the Magic are contemplating taking with the No. 1 decide, matches the mould.
Although Holmgren wasn’t formally measured throughout the NBA’s scouting mix this week, he’s been listed at 7-foot and is believed to have a 7-foot-6 wingspan. This helped him turn into an elite shot-blocker (3.7 with the Bulldogs) and rim deterrent in school.
Orlando additionally has two second-round picks for the draft at Nos. 32 and 35.
A participant to regulate is Santa Clara guard/ahead Jalen Williams.
Williams, who averaged 18 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals, was measured for the Eleventh-longest wingspan (7-foot-2) on the mix regardless of being 6-foot-4 with out sneakers.
Williams advised the Orlando Sentinel that the Magic had been one of many 15-16 groups he’s spoken with this previous week.
While the Magic have a historical past of buying and selling out of the second spherical, they’re anticipated to make use of at the least considered one of their picks this 12 months. They may additionally attempt to console these picks and commerce them to get into the again finish of the primary spherical.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com