2021 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Pistons make right choice, movement in top-10
38. . F. Orlando Magic. Scottie Barnes. 5. player
2021 NBA Mock Draft — 5. Scottie Barnes, Orlando Magic
The Magic love length and defense, so it’s not hard to see why Scottie Barnes is the favorite here. While it’s fair to question his fit — he’s a non-shooter, while Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke already provide defensive versatility on the wing — Barnes is a great young player, and he should figure it out regardless of team context.
Barnes spent much of last season running point for Florida State. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward can orchestrate the offense, especially when it’s grab-and-go in transition. He’s exceedingly smart and unselfish, with a knack for locating shooters and getting teammates involved. His lack of a jumper stings, but he would give Orlando a lot of fascinating small-ball options.
Defense is where Barnes hangs his hat, and there’s no doubt that a defensive core of Barnes and Isaac — with the likes of Okeke, Mohamed Bamba, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., and Gary Harris also on the roster — would give Orlando a competitive defense fairly quickly. If Barnes is the best prospect in Orlando’s eyes, then he’s a perfectly reasonable pick.
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