SBNation Mock Draft, Pick #22: Orlando Magic

by Ridiculous Matt on Jun 19, 2008 6:19 PM EDT in NBA Draft 2008 Comment 2 comments

With the twenty-second pick in the 2008 SBNation NBA Mock Draft, the Orlando Magic, represented by Third Quarter Collapse , select ...

Kosta Koufos, Center, Ohio State University. 7-1, 245 lbs.

Third Quarter Collapse says:

The Magic have a huge hole at shooting guard, but need help at every position except small forward, where they already employ Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. As such, their strategy at 22 should be fairly easy: just take the best player available, right?

Wrong.

With their favorite two-guard prospects already gone (Brandon Rush to Portland; Chris Douglas-Roberts to Toronto; and Courtney Lee to Cleveland;) the Magic need to look elsewhere.

They look to Kosta Koufos of The Ohio State University.

The Magic need not concern themselves with how Koufos, a consensus top-15 prospect, slipped to 22. All they need to know is that he can help bolster their five-spot immediately. They can use him to spell Dwight Howard off the bench, or, if they need defense, they can pair him with Howard in the same frontcourt. The Magic hoped free-agent signee Adonal Foyle would provide that same versatility last season, but his offensive shortcomings, as well as his lack of speed, made that lineup completely ineffective. In fact, they hardly used it.

While Ryan Anderson of California and Serge Ibaka of the Congo certainly tempt the Magic, they don't have the same upside Koufos does. Additionally, Anderson plays the same position and style as Magic reserve Brian Cook, and there's no sense in duplicating him. Meanwhile, Ibaka is too raw for the Magic to spend the 22nd pick on.

So, although they were unable to address their most pressing need at shooting guard, the Magic come away with what may turn out to be the steal of the draft: not only did they get the best player available, but he happens to be a true center, skilled on offense and on defense. For a team with a much-maligned draft history, this selection is a home run.

The Utah Jazz, represented by SLC Dunk , are on the clock.

The 2008 SB Nation Mock Draft so far:

1. Chicago Bulls- Blog-A-Bull: Derrick Rose

2. Miami Heat- Peninsula is Mightier: Michael Beasley

3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Canis Hoopus: OJ Mayo

4. Seattle Supersonics- Ridiculous Upside: Eric Gordon

5. Memphis Grizzlies- 3 Shades of Blue: Kevin Love

6. New York Knicks- Posting and Toasting: Russell Westbrook

7. Los Angeles Clippers- Clips Nation: Jerryd Bayless

8. Milwaukee Bucks- BrewHoop: Anthony Randolph

9. Charlotte Bobcats- Queen City Hoops: Joe Alexander

10. New Jersey Nets-Nets Daily: Brook Lopez