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NBA Draft Rumors: Orlando Magic ‘seriously looking’ at Noah Vonleh

By Andrew Melnick

Mar 13, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) dunks against Illinois Fighting Illini forward Nnanna Egwu (32) in the first round of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) dunks against Illinois Fighting Illini forward Nnanna Egwu (32) in the first round of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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After selecting former Indiana Hoosiers’ guard Victor Oladipo with the number two overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic hoped to get another pick in the top one or two this year.

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Instead they finished with the league’s third-worst record and were jumped by the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving them the fourth-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Most expect the Magic to add a point guard, either Australian point guard Dante Exum or former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart.

That, however, may not be the case. There have been several reports as of late that the Magic are very interested in taking another former Hoosier, big man Noah Vonleh, rather than one of the point guards.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, the Magic are seriously considering taking Vonleh with the fourth-overall pick.

"This might be a dream scenario for the Jazz. While Exum could go to the Bucks, Sixers or Magic (in fact, those are the only teams for whom he’s scheduled to work out), there is also a chance he slides. The Bucks and Sixers both have players higher than him on their boards (though workouts might change that), and the Magic are seriously looking at Vonleh at 4."

There is also the possibility the Magic could package their 12th-0verall pick and guard Arron Afflalo to move up in the draft and take a point guard and Vonleh.

Vonleh, who measured in at 6’9.5 and 247 pounds with an impressive wingspan of 7’4.5, averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.3% from the field, 48.5% from beyond the arc and 71.6% from the free throw line. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranks Vonleh as the seventh-best prospect in the draft and currently projects the Jazz to take him with the fifth-overall pick.

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