Paolo Banchero by no means labored out for the Orlando Magic. He didn’t should, both.
His 12 months at Duke offered all the data they wanted.
The most recent — and maybe most necessary — piece to Orlando’s rebuild is Banchero, the 208cm ahead who went No.1 total within the NBA draft. He met with the Magic a number of instances in current weeks, participating in all the pieces from persona profiles to get-to-know-you interviews, and what occurred in these periods solely steeled Orlando’s perception that he was the perfect choose.
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“We really feel he was the perfect participant in faculty basketball,” Magic president Jeff Weltman stated. “And we really feel that he’ll proceed to develop yearly for a few years to come back.”
Banchero averaged 17.2 factors in his lone faculty season, together with 7.8 rebounds and was a third-team Related Press All-American. There have been roars from the group at Amway Middle — Banchero’s new residence court docket — when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver introduced that the Magic have been on the clock.
It didn’t take lengthy for the Magic to ship within the official phrase. Banchero is heading to Orlando, with plans for his official welcome at his new residence on Friday.
“A dream come true,” Banchero stated, when detailing what the second that he heard his title because the No. 1 choose. “It was a extremely surreal second.”
Silver is a Duke grad. And as is custom for the commissioner, he gave Banchero a handshake and heat embrace after the brand new No.1 choose placed on a Magic hat and took the stage for his large second.
The entire scene was overwhelming for Banchero, and sure, he cried.
“I’d by no means been delivered to tears by something that was constructive,” he stated.
Banchero joins a younger core in Orlando that already contains 2017 high total choose Markelle Fultz, a pair of top-eight picks from the 2021 draft in Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and Cole Anthony — the No.15 choose in 2020.
Orlando additionally has the No.6 picks from the 2017 and 2018 draft, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba. It’s attainable that when subsequent season begins Orlando might have as many as six lottery picks, 9 top-16 picks and 12 first-rounders on its roster.
There’s numerous room to develop. The Magic went 22-60 this previous season. Banchero’s Duke staff gained 10 extra video games than the Magic did.
“I’m tremendous excited to get out to Orlando,” Banchero stated. “Like, actually, I’m excited in regards to the staff. I believe that’s essentially the most thrilling half, to get on the market with the staff. I really feel like we have now an actual proficient staff. Loads of guys are hungry, able to win, and I am the identical means.”
Banchero will make over $14 million subsequent season, the beginning of his four-year rookie deal, plus no matter he lures in off-court earnings. Provided that he is a No.1 choose, out of Duke, with Italian and American citizenship, it is possible he’ll have loads of enchantment within the endorsement world.
Selecting Banchero was a gentle shock, after weeks of hypothesis that Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. or Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren may be those atop Orlando’s record. Holmgren went No.2 to Oklahoma Metropolis, and Smith No.3 to Houston.
Weltman hinted earlier within the week that stories might need been mistaken, even boasting that the Magic pleasure themselves on protecting large choices like this a shock.
They pulled it off, too.
“I believe that it it’s necessary that folks know that data is managed discreetly with us from each nook of this enterprise, from brokers to different groups to the media,” Weltman stated. “And clearly, if you’re enjoying poker, you don’t put your playing cards on the desk, proper?”
This was the fourth time that Orlando made the No.1 choice. If historical past holds true, Banchero goes to have an extended profession on this league.
The Magic took Shaquille O’Neal with the highest choice in 1992. Chris Webber was the No. 1 choose by Orlando in 1993, and he obtained traded that very same night time for Penny Hardaway and a bundle of future picks that finally led to Vince Carter and Mike Miller. And in 2004, the Magic chosen Dwight Howard with the primary choose.
Miller has his fingerprints on this choose as nicely: He’s been working with Banchero in current weeks, getting him prepared for the NBA grind.
Now, it’s Banchero’s flip to be the prized rookie, after Orlando determined to decide on him over the 2 different extremely touted candidates for the No. 1 choose — Smith and Holmgren.
Banchero additionally turned the thirteenth consecutive participant to get drafted No. 1 total after only one 12 months of school.
“I am unable to imagine what simply occurred, truthfully,” Banchero stated, after embracing his mom — Rhonda Smith-Banchero, a former WNBA participant.
Consider it. The Magic are betting a giant a part of their future on the 19-year-old.
“Our staff obtained lots higher tonight,” Weltman stated. “Paolo hasn’t performed one minute on this league but and all the pieces that he will get, he will should earn. Clearly, he has an incredible future, large future, in entrance of him.”
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