Comparing the Knicks’ young core to Magic’s ahead of matchup
The New York Knicks’ second Eastern Conference opponent of the 2022-23 regular season is the Orlando Magic. Like the Pistons, the Magic finished below the Knicks last season with a 22-60 record, the worst in the conference.
Orlando’s coming off an offseason where it had the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time since the Magic selected Dwight Howard first overall in 2004. Paolo Banchero, the rookie out of Duke, scored 27 points and added nine rebounds and five assists in his first regular season game against Detroit.
Orlando selected Banchero over Chet Holmgren, who was chosen No. 2 by the Thunder, and Jabari Smith, who was chosen No. 3 by the Rockets. The season just started, but Banchero currently has the best odds to win Rookie of the Year.
The Magic have two playoff appearances in the past 10 seasons, and they most likely won’t reach the play-in tournament this year, but they’re on the path back to relevancy.
Do the Knicks have better young players than the Magic?
New York’s had success with its draft pick in recent years, which is the best way to build a winning team. Like the Knicks, the Magic have been working to build through the draft. Let’s take a look back at Orlando’s draft picks from 2017 to now that are still on the roster.
- 2017: Jonathan Isaac at No. 6
- 2018: Mo Bamba at No. 6
- 2019: Chuma Okeke at No. 16
- 2020: Cole Anthony at No. 15
- 2021: Jalen Suggs at No. 5, Franz Wagner at No. 8
- 2022: Paolo Banchero at No. 1, Caleb Houstan at No. 32
Looking ahead to the future, the Magic have two first-round picks in 2023, one first-round pick in 2024, two first-round picks in 2025, one first-round pick in 2026, one first-round pick in 2027, one first-round pick in 2028, one first-round pick in 2029, and one first-round pick in 2030.
Let’s compare that to the Knicks’ picks since 2017.
- 2018: Mitchell Robinson at No. 36
- 2019: RJ Barrett at No. 3
- 2020: Obi Toppin at No. 8, Immanuel Quickley at No. 25
- 2021: Quentin Grimes at No. 25, Rokas Jokubaitis at No. 34, Miles McBride at No. 36, Jericho Sims at No. 58
- 2022: Trevor Keels at No. 42
The Knicks have four first-round picks in 2023, one first-round pick in 2024, two first-round picks in 2025, one first-round pick in 2026, one first-round pick in 2027, one first-round pick in 2028, one first-round pick in 2029, and one first-round pick in 2030.
New York has a better, more proven young core than Orlando, but the Magic truly lucked out by winning the lottery and selecting Banchero. The Knicks have been criticized for not being able to sign or trade for a star, but the Magic appear to have one in their 19-year-old forward.
Orlando isn’t a team that New York will have to worry about this season, but the Magic are going to be a team to watch in the coming years. And go ahead and book Banchero to win ROY.
