NBA Draft Rumors: Orlando Magic like Dante Exum ‘an awful lot’
The Orlando Magic could be affected by the former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid’s injury as much as any team.
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Before Embiid had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, the Magic likely thought the teams with the first three selections, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers would take Embiid, his former Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, and former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker, leaving the Magic to take Australian point guard Dante Exum.
However, now that Embiid may slide down the draft boards, many expect Wiggins, Parker and Exum to be the first three picks, leaving the Magic to select from a group that includes Embiid, former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh and former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart, among others.
The Magic, however, have shown interest in trading up. They reportedly covet Wiggins, but are very high on Exum as well.
Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders is the latest to report the Magic’s interest in Exum.
"Obviously Afflalo and Nelson keep coming up in rumors, and the former could return something interesting. I don’t expect Embiid to be on the board at 4, but you never know now that he’s had another surgery. Magic like Exum an awful lot."
Of course, the 76ers could decide they want to keep Michael Cater-Williams and would rather take a risk on Embiid or fill a need with a player like Vonleh, leaving the Magic to take Exum (provided Wiggins and Parker are the first two picks).
Exum measured in at 6’6 and 196 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.5 at the NBA’s Scouting Combine. Exum is ranked by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express as the fifth-best prospect in the draft