The Orlando Magic, owners of the Nos. 1, 32 and 35 picks in the NBA draft, will have multiple chances to add to their roster on June 23.
After kicking off a rebuild in March 2021, the Magic already have significant young talent. Orlando has nine players who were drafted in the first round since 2017 signed to contracts for the 2022-23 season.
Nonetheless, the Magic have clear needs after finishing 2021-22 with a 22-60 record.
As the roster stands, Orlando needs a 3-and-D wing/forward — with an emphasis on reliable 3-point shooting — who has good size and length for their position. The Magic also could use another big/center, depending on what happens with Mo Bamba’s restricted free agency.
After taking a step forward in their pre-draft evaluations during the mid-May NBA draft combine in Chicago, the Magic are hosting prospects for workouts ahead of the draft.
This story is part of a series on players the Magic either interviewed or worked out in Orlando:
Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)
Height: 6-foot-9 | Weight: 230 pounds | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7 feet
2021-22 averages: 9.2 points (47.4% from the field — 58.5% on 2s, 29.6% on 3s), 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals.
Connection: NBA draft combine interviewee
Note: Teams are allowed to interview a maximum of 20 players at the combine and each player is allowed to interview with a maximum of 13 teams, according to a league spokesperson. The league decides which team speaks to the players. Just because a team didn’t interview a prospect during the combine doesn’t mean they’re not interested or won’t pick the player.
The buzz: Sochan was a 4-star recruit from La Porte, Ind., powerhouse La Lumiere School before joining German club Orange Academy for 2020-21. He was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and placed on the conference’s All-Freshman team after his only season with the Bears. Sochan, whose mother is Polish and father is from the U.S., represents Poland in international play.
Scouting report: Standout defender who can guard 1-4 because of his length, lateral quickness, agility, motor and feel. Can play in multiple defensive schemes and multiple areas on the floor when defending the pick-and-roll. Does well pressuring ballhandlers, guarding in space and recovering when beat off the dribble. Battles with bigs down low and hustles for rebounds. Active presence in passing lanes and showed an understanding of off-ball responsibilities. Has the tools to be a reliable weak-side rim protector. Solid passer and playmaker, especially in transition. Good cutter and roller. Does well with finishing at the rim and attacking closeouts.
Solid spot-up shooter with a high release, but outside shot is inconsistent. Raw offensive skills. Showed flashes of self-creation off the dribble, but shooting motion is slow and could be more fluid. Will need to improve outside shot for defenses to see him as an offensive threat. Gets to the line frequently, but free-throw shooting (58.9%) leaves concerns about how much better he’ll improve as a shooter.
Fit: Sochan’s defensive versatility fits what the Magic like, but they’ll be looking for someone who’s more polished offensively with the draft’s top pick. He’ll likely be taken late in the lottery or mid-first round because of the defensive skills he brings and potential for offensive growth.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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