2023 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Mavs’ $750K fine pays off

Orlando gets this pick from Chicago as part of the Nikola Vucevic trade. With it, Orlando addresses one of the few glaring weaknesses in its young core: spacing. Paolo Banchero spent much of his rookie season struggling from 3-point range and Markelle Fultz, for all his mesmerizing forays into the paint, still doesn’t command much defensive attention on the perimeter.

Jett Howard is nothing if not an NBA shooter. At 6-foot-8, he also fits the Magic’s general emphasis on big, positionally versatile players. Howard has a lot of work to do defensively, but his offensive skill set would fit perfectly within Orlando’s current ecosystem. He can hit shots on the move or standing still, plus there’s reason to believe the son of former NBA All-Star Juwan Howard can develop into more than just a spacer.

The defense is a major concern, as Howard doesn’t move well enough in space to defend fleet-footed guards, nor does he possess the strength to battle stronger forwards in the post. Luckily the Magic have built up quite the reservoir of defensive talent; the overall malleability of the roster around him could help Howard survive — or at least give him time to improve without getting run off the floor every night.

Orlando is not far away from winning games and making a playoff push. That team was sneaky competent, bordering on good after the All-Star break. Paolo and Franz Wagner will take another leap, Fultz is starting to look more like the Fultz of old, and there are still some potential-laden wild cards like Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac who could take off at any moment. Howard is a player who can contribute to a good team from day one.