#3 Jalen Johnson – Forward – Duke
One of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class is Jalen Johnson from Duke. While he only played in a total of 11 games at Duke due to a foot injury and then deciding to leave school to train for the NBA Draft, Johnson still finds himself as a potential high lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft because of his potential to grow into something special.
Standing about 6’9”, Johnson can not only be a factor on the wing or in the low-post, but he is more than comfortable bringing the ball up the court as a forward. He is definitely a very strong rebounder and with his big frame and athleticism, he is a tough player to keep out of the paint.
Jalen Johnson also has shown flashes of being a really solid jump shooter from the perimeter as well! In his small sample size of games at Duke, Johnson shot 8-18 (44.4%) from three-point range, which is definitely above-average for a prospect of his stature.
Drafting a stretch forward that measured a hand width of 10.5 inches, the largest at this year’s combine, is highly advantageous to the Orlando Magic not only because he can produce on offense, but because he can excel as a rebounder and possible shot-blocker as well.
Orlando’s frontcourt is very shaky right now with Isaac returning from an ACL injury and both Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba being question marks at the center position, which is why Jalen Johnson could see big minutes right away. As stated before as well, they really do not have any talent on the wing, which is why they could look to move Johnson around in different rotations.
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A cross between T.J. Warren and Tobias Harris type of player is definitely a strong comparison to make for Jalen Johnson, which would definitely put a smile on those in the Magic’s front-office. He is an above-average level athlete and while he may not be the most explosive player, he is more than comfortable taking his time to get to his spots on the floor.
Given that they are rebuilding, the Magic will be looking for raw, high-potential guys with the 8th overall pick, assuming they do not trade it, which is exactly what Jalen Johnson is. He may not be the best player in this draft class, but there is no reason why he cannot grow into a reliable starting five caliber player down the line.
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The Orlando Magic have time to invest in young players and develop them so they can reach their full potential, which is why they would be smart to invest their time in a guy like Jalen Johnson, who has shown the ability to affect the game in various different ways at many different positions. Jalen Johnson is definitely one of the biggest question marks of this year’s draft in terms of what kind of player he can be, but in Orlando, Johnson could definitely find success early on in his career.
