The much-anticipated draft took place earlier this week and there were certainly some eye-catching picks. While the dust may have only just settled on the Golden State Warriors’ NBA Finals triumph over the Boston Celtics, there were a few talking points from the draft.
College basketball has been flourishing of late and among the latest stars to have graduated through the system, is Paolo Banchero, who was the Orlando Magic’s No.1 pick.
Magic had a rather unforgettable campaign as they wound up with a record of 22-60, and the fans will be pinning their hopes on Banchero to turn things around next season.
During his one year at Duke, Banchero was effective on the floor, as he averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts.
Although many fans would have expected Magic to swoop in for Auburn forward Jabari Smith as their top pick, they missed out as Smith headed to the Houston Rockets instead.
But Banchero has promised to rip things up for the Magic next season and he admits he can’t wait to get started.
Discussing his move, Banchero said: “I plan on bringing everything I have to Orlando. First off, just a winning mindset, a work-first mindset.
“Just ready to get in with the guys and get to work. This is one of the best moments in my life. I’m super excited.”
Meanwhile, Jeremy Sochan was arguably a lottery pick, but he will be flying the flag for Great Britain when he turns out for the San Antonio Spurs next season.
Sochan — who was born to a Polish mother and an American father — is only 19 years old, but he showed what he can do for the Baylor Bears last season, averaging 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. With his 6 ft 9in frame, Sochan has proved he is rather athletic on the floor and he could be an effective rookie guard.
Naturally, a lot can be read into how the draft pans out. For fans, it is a chance to see which rookies could make a difference to their franchise and there is an element of glitz and glamour added to proceedings. However, to a certain extent, the impact of the NBA draft can be far-reaching as it can be used to make predictions about how the following season may pan out for various franchises.
Indeed, many of the top betting sites will analyse the results of the NBA draft and use stats to suggest how well teams may perform. For example, BetMGM might examine the Banchero pick, view it as a good deal for Magic, and shorten the Magic’s odds of reaching the playoffs next season, or even winning the NBA title when they come to post futures odds.
The NBA draft has given us a glimpse of what we can expect and the Banchero pick is arguably the standout deal. If he can deliver upon the hype, then the Magic could be in for a fabulous season. But as with any draft pick, only time will tell.
