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HoopsHype

Magic seriously considering Paolo Banchero with No. 1 pick along with Jabari Smith

Adrian Wojnarowski: As I just reported on our NBA Draft Show on ESPN, Duke’s Paolo Banchero has joined Auburn’s Jabari Smith under serious consideration to be franchise’s No. 1 overall pick, sources said. There’s a real chance draft boards could get blown up at the top of the lottery.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
As I just reported on our NBA Draft Show on ESPN, Duke’s Paolo Banchero has joined Auburn’s Jabari Smith under serious consideration to be franchise’s No. 1 overall pick, sources said. There’s a real chance draft boards could get blown up at the top of the lottery. – 7:40 PM
David Baumann @DavidBaumannORL
“There’s a chance tonight that everybody’s draft boards can get blown up. I’m told that Paolo Banchero of Duke is very much in the conversation to go #1 over to the Magic along with Auburn’s Jabari Smith. Orlando will call that pick in here within 35-40 minutes.” – @Adrian Wojnarowski7:37 PM
David Morrow @_DavidMorrow
Would feel OK taking three guys in this draft over Jabari Smith. – 7:13 PM
Gery Woelfel @GeryWoelfel
The NBA draft’s top 3 picks –Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero — have been virtually set for several weeks. The fun & games begin at 4. Kings are VERY receptive to moving the pick, and Knicks want it in worst way to get Jaden Ivey. Toppin and a pair of No. 1s? – 12:54 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Jabari Smith: I’ll be surprised if I’m not taken No. 1 sportando.basketball/en/jabari-smit…11:17 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: NBA draft expected to start with Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero in order nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/23/rep…11:01 AM
Jeremy Woo @JeremyWoo
Seems relevant today: here’s my cover story from February on the rise of projected top pick Jabari Smith Jr.: si.com/college/2022/0…10:50 AM
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Jabari Smith Jr. — the consensus top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft — tells @YahooSports how he got here and where he’s going: “I’ll be surprised if I’m not taken No. 1.” sports.yahoo.com/2022-nba-draft…10:49 AM
Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Final NBA Mock Draft for 2022: Jabari Smith Jr., Chet Holmgren lead the way as reporters make first-round picks
via @TheAthletic theathletic.com/3378966/2022/0…10:47 AM
Evan Dunlap @BQRMagic
really don’t think Jabari Smith Jr. is the pick – 10:22 AM
Jake Fischer @JakeLFischer
Waking up to all the No. 1 gambling movement overnight, my understanding is Paolo Banchero was scheduled to visit ORL on Monday, cancelled, but the Magic finally got on the phone with Banchero and his people Wednesday. Still, has been little belief ORL wasn’t going Jabari Smith. – 10:10 AM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
If you’re tracking the volatile betting market for the No. 1 pick, which were a roller coaster overnight and saw Paolo Banchero become a betting favorite for a time, BetMGM has the following odds:
Jabari Smith Jr. at -550
Paolo Banchero at +200
Chet Holmgren at +1000 – 9:58 AM
Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
“The NBA Draft is a difficult event to handicap. Rumors and leaks can cause wild line movement. Jabari Smith Jr. closed as the favorite to be the first pick but Paolo Banchero’s odds moved from +1600 to +200 earlier this week.” BetMGM’s Christian Cipollini via email release – 9:50 AM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
2022 #NBADraft stories at @SdnaGr
The 2022 NBA Draft guide: https://t.co/AFqeTbuQ4X
The prospects with their own words: https://t.co/lmXyvpSPsb
NBA Draft stories(+Undrafted): https://t.co/VbomLQkhWD
Jabari Smith jr: https://t.co/E1VjPNAXfM
Chet Holmgren: https://t.co/tCFEaQ0n5e pic.twitter.com/mDkjoyWoqj8:11 AM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Paolo Banchero is now the betting favorite to go first. The odds are shifting a lot tonight. Banchero is now at -175 on FanDuel. Jabari Smith at +135.
In my recent @ringer mock draft I wrote about the potential of a trade and Smith not going #1: nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft2:39 AM
Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
You gotta take Jabari Smith No. 1. But do you? It’s gonna be tough to pass on a unicorn like Chet Holmgren. He’ll be unstoppable inside of 3 years and a defensive menace at the rim and on the perimeter. – 11:48 PM

More on this storyline

As far as I can tell, as of Wednesday morning, Jabari Smith remains the favorite to come off the board at No. 1 to Orlando. Due to the silence the Magic have successfully projected to the rest of the NBA, this can’t be treated as an absolute certainty, but it’s become a strong hunch shared by most around the league. Magic boss Jeff Weltman is thought by many to have a soft spot for Chet Holmgren, but most expect Orlando will land on Smith, who for what it’s worth is my top-rated prospect and the player I’d take at No. 1. -via Sports Illustrated / June 22, 2022
With the No. 1 pick Thursday night, league executives widely project Auburn forward Jabari Smith to be the Magic’s choice. Among Smith and fellow top prospects Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, Smith and his representatives have long expressed the most enthusiasm about joining the Magic, sources told B/R. Holmgren’s and Banchero’s camps have operated with greater desires to land elsewhere, according to league personnel familiar with both players. While Holmgren visited Orlando, it’s believed the Gonzaga product and his representatives would prefer to land with the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2, as they view the Thunder as having a stronger infrastructure to support Holmgren’s development. Holmgren has only collaborated with Orlando and Oklahoma City during predraft activity, sources said. The same goes for Smith. -via Bleacher Report / June 21, 2022

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