NBA Draft Rumors: Orlando Magic eyeing Noah Vonleh

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 /

The foot injury to former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid may be more devastating to the teams with the third-overall and fourth-overall selections, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

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The 76ers are said to covet former Kansas Jayhawks’ forward Andrew Wiggins and the Magic have been eyeing Australian point guard Dante Exum. However, Wiggins will almost certainly go either one or two to the Cleveland Cavaliers or Milwaukee Bucks, depending on the Cavaliers’ feelings on former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and many assume the 76ers will wind up taking Exum.

That will likely leave the Magic to pick between former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh and former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart.

Alex Lee of Hoops Rumors believes the Magic will wind up going with Vonleh.

"There had been considerable Marcus Smart buzz here, so we’re likely to see him slotted to Orlando in plenty of mocks over the next week. But the Magic have had their eye on Vonleh as well, who would pair nicely in the frontcourt with Nikola Vucevic and has a much higher upside."

Smart is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the draft by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. He averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season and shot 42.2% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 72.8% from the charity stripe. Smart measured in at 6’3.25 and 227 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.25.

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.

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