2023 NBA Mock Draft: Mavericks land defensive stopper, Warriors add another shooter

6. Orlando Magic select Jarace Walker

The Orlando Magic have one of the brightest futures of any team in the lottery, and their future gets even brighter on draft night as they have two selections in the top 11.

They have two chances to add a nice piece to their young core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., and Cole Anthony. All of these players are 25 years old or younger, and adding two young players to that young core will work wonders for the Magic.

With their first selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, I have them selecting Jarace Walker from the University of Houston. Walker averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and one steal per game as a freshman at Houston. He is a defensive monster and also has some potential as a playmaker.

He is the perfect fit in the starting lineup for Orlando alongside Banchero and Wagner and will compliment their game beuatifully. His vision and decision making in transition will be fun to watch in Orlando as they are a young team that will thrive in transition.

Walker can take the tough defensive assignments, and his ability to switch on defense and compete with bigger forwards will complete a defensive frontcourt alongside Carter Jr.