Orlando Magic: So We Agree It Should Be Justise Winslow Then?

With the Orlando Magic likely having a top-five draft pick this summer, many have chimed in on who they think this team should take. Indeed, at one point earlier in the year the likes of Emmanuel Mudiay interested me personally and it’ll still be intriguing if he’s on the board when the Magic are drafting.

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As the weeks have gone by and the NCAA tournament gradually came to an entertaining climax though, one name has begun to stick out more than others. That is Justise Winslow.

Winslow, as a member of the championship winning Duke Blue Devils, was the defensive motor that powered his team to national title glory. Indeed, it is his defensive abilities that will be his calling card once he reaches the big time.

But just because many people have suddenly decided Winslow is the player Orlando needs to fill out it’s roster, that does not necessarily mean it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll end up there.

If Winslow does hear his name called when the Magic are drafting however, there’s no doubt that’ll he’ll be able to help his new team right away. For me, there are two key reasons for this. Firstly, being a forward, and more specifically a power forward, he would fill the one area on the Magic’s roster that needs the most attention.

The backcourt for this team is set, as is the center position. Channing Frye still has three years left on his deal and is absolutely a player of starter quality in the NBA. His first season didn’t go as expected with the Magic, but he’s a power forward capable of stretching the floor in ways not many others can. So we’ll assume he’ll be around next year for now.

Winslow would fill that real glaring hole in the roster given the position he plays and the defense he would bring. Wing players who can guard opponents best players are not in abundance in the league right now, and Winslow would very quickly develop into one of those players.

I’m not comparing his game to that of Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, but he could have a similar career arc.

While Butler is undoubtedly the better two-way player, when he was drafted it took him some time to find his footing. He gradually became a better player, but was still underrated and largely unknown to the casual fan. This year he’s had a breakout campaign, and he will be paid accordingly this summer.

He defends opponent’s best players essentially every night, and he usually does it well. If Orlando had a wing like that, they’d begin to move up the standings.

From a defensive standpoint at least, Winslow can be that guy. To me that’s the big reason to go for this guy if he’s available. His defense is NBA ready and he’ll come in from day one and be able to help out on that end. This was a team that ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency during the regular season, and some of the points they gave up were ugly.

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Winslow could bump that number up some, while also being able to play in some small ball lineups too if the Magic wants to play that way from time to time. With the future of Harris, a restricted free agent, also unclear, Winslow could be the guy to replace him on this team right away if the Magic don’t feel like matching any big offers they potentially get for him.

So that’s another reason to think about drafting him.

One potential red flag for me though, and it’s bigger than simply drafting Winslow or not, is where this team’s offensive punch comes from. Winslow will chip in with some scoring, but it’s not what he’s known for, at least not right now. While Vucevic was Orlando’s leading scorer this season, it would be ideal if he didn’t have to carry the scoring burden going forward as well.

Elfrid Payton isn’t much of an offensive player yet, while Victor Oladipo is streaky in that department. In fact, Evan Fournier is probably the only out-and-out scorer this team really has. So shouldn’t Orlando think about maybe addressing that in the draft? Maybe picking a guy known for his scoring before all else?

Personally I don’t think so, as a guy like that can be gotten in free agency. Lance Stephenson perhaps? The point is, though, it’s not the open and shut case many are making it out to be. It’s not as simply as assuming Winslow is the answer here, or that he’ll even still be available when the Magic are drafting. Other teams surely like the look of what they’ve seen from him as well.

Many are drifting towards him as the perfect fit with the Magic though, and it’s hard to disagree when you look at what he can bring to a team and what Orlando need the most. In fact, pairing him with Payton and Oladipo could make for a top 10 defense next season, especially of Vucevic becomes a better rim protector.

It’s a pick I’d like to see happen, but much like last season, when a lot of fans felt Dante Exum was a done deal to the Magic, I know better than to assume this is how Orlando will draft. Count me as a fan though, he’s the kind of player who can help this team right away and make Harris and his potential departure more bearable. Wouldn’t you agree?

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