The Orlando Magic will reach the first major signpost of their offseason on Wednesday, when team officials arrive in Chicago for the 2015 NBA Draft Combine.
Although Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, point guard prospect Emmanuel Mudiay and Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis will not attend the combine, the event is still crucial for the Magic.
Orlando will enter the NBA Draft Lottery with an 8.8 percent chance of winning the first pick, a 9.7 percent likelihood of receiving the second pick and a 10.7 percent probability of getting the third pick. The team also will have a 26.2 percent chance of obtaining the fifth pick, a 36.0 percent shot of acquiring the sixth pick, an 8.4 percent likelihood of earning the seventh pick and a 0.4 chance of getting the eighth pick.
The Magic also hold the 51st pick in the draft.
During their time in Chicago, general manager Rob Hennigan and assistant general managers Scott Perry and Matt Lloyd are expected to interview a total of 18 draft prospects.
The Magic have four obvious needs that they must fill in either the draft, via free agency or through the trade market. The team needs to add a power forward who can play effectively on both ends of the floor. The Magic also lack quality rim protectors. The team also must upgrade its shooting and its bench.
With those needs in mind, here’s a quick look at nine players the Magic should attempt to interview at the combine.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Position: Center/power forward. Height/Weight: 7-0/240. School: Kentucky.
The Buzz: Cauley-Stein helped the Wildcats post a 38-1 record, with their only loss occurring in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. Cauley-Stein played three college seasons, and his offensive game remains raw. But he likely is the best rim protector in the draft, and he could be available if the Magic wind up picking fifth or sixth.
Stanley Johnson
Position: Small forward. Height/Weight: 6-7/245. School: Arizona.
The Buzz: Small forward won’t be a position of need for the Magic if they retain restricted free agent-to-be Tobias Harris. The Magic also have last year’s fourth overall draft pick, Aaron Gordon. But Johnson averaged 13.8 points in his lone season at Arizona, and he’s too talented not to interview in Chicago.
Frank Kaminsky
Position: Center/power forward. Height/Weight: 7-0/242. School: Wisconsin.
The Buzz: Kaminsky won multiple National Player of the Year awards in 2014-15, but he doesn’t figure to be a top-10 pick. He also isn’t a rim protector. Still, it can’t hurt to interview him.
Kevon Looney
Position: Power forward. Height/Weight: 6-9/220. School: UCLA.
The Buzz: Looney’s offensive game lacks refinement, and the rough edges to his game probably would make him too much of a project for the Magic, who need to start winning sooner than later.
Trey Lyles
Position: Power forward. Height/Weight: 6-10/235. School: Kentucky.
The Buzz: Lyles spent just one season at Kentucky, and he only blocked 16 shots during his brief college career.
Kelly Oubre
Position: Small forward/shooting guard. Height/Weight: 6-7/200. School: Kansas.
The Buzz: Oubre played just one season of college basketball, but he sank 36.0 percent of his three-point tries.
D’Angelo Russell
Position: Point guard. Height/Weight: 6-5/180. School: Ohio State.
The Buzz: Russell, a former Montverde Academy student, was one of the country’s top guards as a freshman in 2014-15. He’s a consensus top-five prospect. The Magic already have their presumed backcourt of the future, with Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo, but Russell is too good of a player not to interview.
Myles Turner
Position: Power forward/center. Height/Weight: 6-11/240. School: Texas.
The Buzz: Although there are questions about his knees, he blocked 2.6 shots per game as a freshman in 2014-15. He’s said to have three-point shooting range, but if he’s so good from the perimeter, why did he only make 27.4 percent of his shots from beyond the arc?
Justise Winslow
Position: Small forward. Height/Weight: 6-6/225. School: Duke.
The Buzz: Winslow helped lead the Blue Devils to the national title, and he’s a superb defender who rebounds well for his size and made 41.8 percent of his three-pointers. The Magic don’t need another wing, but he might be available at No. 5 or No. 6. He might be too good to pass up.
jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.
