With the first pick in the NBA draft, the Orlando Magic surprisingly chose a 19-year-old forward as Franz Wagner’s new teammate.
The team that selected the Berliner in eighth place last year picked Paolo Banchero from Duke University in New York on Thursday evening (local time). However, he only studied there for a year and should now help the young team in Florida to become a title candidate in the best basketball league in the world in the medium term. “I can’t believe what just happened, honestly,” Banchero told the broadcaster ESPN.
Holmgren and Smith are then picked
In the past few days, experts had expected the Magic to choose either Jabari Smith Jr. or Chet Holmgren. Holmgren was picked second by the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Smith was picked third by the Houston Rockets, where international Dennis Schröder played late last season. His future is open.
In the NBA draft, teams take turns picking the rights to a junior player. The worst teams from the previous season are allowed to start, but teams can swap positions with each other.
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