2017 NBA Mock Draft: The best choice each team can make

One of the trends that will become apparent at the end of the first round is a preference for wing players over big men even if they are slightly older or considered to be worse prospects from an absolute talent perspective. The scarcity of wings in an NBA where three of them are often on the floor at the same time for one team makes finding good ones paramount, so it’s better for teams to take a risk on those players late in the first round than to draft a big man who could develop into a rotation piece when those are plentiful.

For the Orlando Magic, South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell is the choice. The 6-foot-5 guard checks all of the boxes for a versatile defender, including a strong frame and a 6-foot-10 wingspan. New general manager John Hammond showed a preference for long players at every position during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks and Thornwell would fit that mold. As a senior, he put his tools to use, averaging 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40 minutes.

Offensively, Thornwell will need to prove that his 3-point shooting is real. He made 39.5 percent of his attempts as a senior, but struggled in the three seasons prior. While his defense provides a solid baseline that could earn him time on the court, it is his outside shooting that will keep him on the floor.