What appeared like a 180-degree flip actually wasn’t. The Orlando Magic knew what they had been doing all alongside.
The Magic selected Duke star Paolo Banchero at No 1 total. He was too good to go up for one of many league’s worst offenses. He can rating in a mess of the way corresponding to transition, pull-up jumpers and offensive rebounds.
Banchero wasn’t the anticipated selection on well-respected mock draft boards like CBS Sports and ESPN. Most thought he’d be a top-three choose, seemingly touchdown with the Houston Rockets, however the Magic stored who they desired most a thriller till the final minute.
Why the secrecy?
The reply is straightforward — technique.
“It helps you do business better,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman informed the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday evening. “Whatever partners you’re trying to engage with — whether it’s an agent, another team or whomever — they trust you more if they know you can be discreet with managing your information. It’s a smart way to do business. It’s a part of our strategy of success.”
There was a technique to the Magic’s magic. They labored out a number of prospects in the course of the lead as much as the draft, together with Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren. Not Banchero.
It wasn’t uncommon for the Magic to not have their future picks partake in pre-draft exercises. Jalen Suggs, a 2021 lottery select of Gonzaga, didn’t exercise for them.
Banchero had a number of conversations with the Magic that included how coach Jamahl Mosley plans to make use of him and the way he’d match on the group.
“Talking to coach Mosley, he told me he just wanted to teach guys how to play and how to play efficiently,” Banchero stated. “I feel like I really thrive with that.”
Banchero averaged 17.2 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per sport at Duke, however his match is about greater than numbers.
All the whereas, the Magic had been working in stealth mode.
The Magic seemingly earned respect from loads of groups by retaining their intentions clandestine, together with from the groups at Nos. 2 (Oklahoma City) and three (Houston). The affect of social media and energy held by brokers, who can leverage that data to profit their purchasers, makes leaks inevitable.
The Magic took management as a substitute and buttoned up.
“Honestly, I think that serves a good purpose because not only is it important for us to keep our information discreetly so the players know they can trust us,” Weltman stated. “But it’s also important when teams call because I believe we’re a team that other teams know they can make discreet phone calls to and it won’t get out. The way you manage information is a big part of this business.”
The subsequent stage comes July 1 when free company opens. Maybe the Magic’s tactfulness pays dividends instantly and assist speed up their rebuild. Leaks can weaken a group’s place out there. A 22-win group, second-worst within the NBA final season, must be much more meticulous.
“You never know what’s going to come up. You never know what other teams are trying to do behind you,” Weltman stated. “I can inform you we’ve had conversations with each group, together with these proper behind us [in the draft]. I might flip the query and say, ‘What’s to be gained [by talking]?’
“It’s the best way to do business.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com