The Magic lack power forward depth behind Aaron Gordon. That need makes Leaf a prime candidate in this NBA draft to fill that void in the second unit. The UCLA stud has been a clear beneficiary of UCLA’s wide-open, up-and-down style of play alongside Lonzo Ball. But he possesses the type of high-I.Q., skill-laden game that should translate to almost any offensive system.
Leaf does well in multiple spots offensively. He handles well in straight-line drives, and has the court vision needed to make solid kick-outs to the perimeter or pass out of the interior when stationed on the low block. He’s also a solid outside shooter, as his 46.2 percent clip from deep allows him to space out the offense while still holding the ability to attack closeouts off the dribble, a valuable tool in the modern NBA.
Leaf’s smart all-around game is something that meshes perfectly with the second unit, especially for a team like Orlando with such a high variance in skill set throughout their rotation. His combination of shooting, passing,and general feel for the game helps tie an offensive unit together, and that’s something the Magic could certainly use.
With a pair of heavy slashers at the one spot in Smith Jr. and Payton, Leaf would give Orlando the requisite spacing needed to make it work, essentially operating as the offensive punch behind a defensively-minded Gordon in a sense. Orlando has quite a bit to figure out, but Leaf helps fill some minor holes that need filling. He makes too much sense to not consider here.