Orlando Magic: 3 reasons Justin Jackson was a bad pick

2. The need for a point guard

Between the 43rd pick when Jackson came off the board and the end of the draft, no fewer than eight players listed as guards were taken by teams with the 17 remaining picks.

Now, if the Magic were willing to take a bit of a gamble on a player like Jackson, why not do the same with a backcourt prospect instead?

The team recently waived Shelvin Mack, saving themselves roughly $5 million this coming season, leaving D.J. Augustin as the only veteran floor general currently on the team.

They may also have Rodney Purvis, who showed some flashes late last year, but this would strongly point to the team adding another point guard this summer.

Given that there is already a serious logjam building up in the frontcourt, taking a guard with this pick could’ve brought more balance. They also would have come in with zero expectations, and any production they would have been able to give the team would surely have been a bonus.

That player could have spent some time in the G League as well, and given the team’s injury history (particularly Isaac last year) there’s no telling how valuable another body at the guard position could become.

The new front office has had their work cut out for them since taking over and so far, have done a good job in trying to get the team pointed in the right direction again. However, their insistence on only drafting one kind of player despite the clear need to diversify the backcourt and try new things is puzzling.