The Orlando Magic, owners of the Nos. 1, 32 and 35 pick in the NBA draft, will have multiple chances to add to their roster June 23.
After kicking off a rebuild in March 2021, the Magic already have a significant amount of young talent. Orlando has nine players who were drafted in the first round since 2017 signed to contracts for the 2022-23 season.
The Magic, who finished 2021-22 with a 22-60 record, have clear needs.
As the roster currently 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:
Trevor Keels (Duke)
Vitals: Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 223 pounds | Age: 18 | Wingspan: 6-foot-7 1/4
2021-22 averages: 11.5 points (41.9% from the field — 55.2% on 2s, 31.2% on 3s), 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 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: Keels, a McDonald’s All-American and 5-star out of Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., in the 2021 recruiting class, opened his collegiate career with an efficient 25-point (10-of-18 shooting) showing in a season-opening win over Kentucky. He was a consistent starter until the NCAA tournament, where the Blue Devils lost to UNC in the Final Four. Keels was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Rookie team.
Scouting report: A physical combo guard who’s a solid pull-up shooter and driver. Smart and capable playmaker, especially when attacking closeouts, and rebounder for his position. Can switch onto forwards because of his size and strength. Has a decent looking jumper, but will need to improve his efficiency on 3s. His free-throw percentage (67%) needs improvement. He’ll also need to become quicker laterally to stay with smaller guards.
Fit: The Magic are loaded with young guards (Cole Anthony, Devin Cannady, Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton and Jalen Suggs), so Keels would have a hard time getting playing time if he was in Orlando. He could be available in the back end of the first round, where the Magic could trade into, or early in the second round.
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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