The Magic are sending the 41st overall pick in the draft to the Nuggets, who will use it to select Kentucky forward Jarred Vanderbilt, reports Jeremy Woo of SI.com (Twitter link). Orlando will move down two spots in the deal and use the No. 43 pick to draft Maryland forward Justin Jackson, Woo adds (via Twitter).
Heading to Orlando in the deal will be a future second-round pick, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel tweets. According to the Magic’s official announcement, it’s a 2019 second-rounder.
The Nuggets will add the intriguing Kentucky reserve to a draft haul that already includes Michael Porter Jr. In 14 games off the bench for the Wildcats, Vanderbilt averaged just 5.9 points per game but has upside as a gritty rebounder and defender.
Jackson had been regarded as a possible first-round pick last season but returned for his sophomore season at Maryland and ended up missing the second half of the season with a shoulder injury. He’ll join the Magic having averaged 10.3 points per game in 44 contests for the Terrapins.
Vanderbilt seems like he might eventually turn into a fine replacement for Kenneth Faried. If he can get healthy, that seems like a decent comp for him.
What a bad move for Justin Jackson man, you see that is why you don’t return to college, last year 1st round, would have a pro contract, so doesn’t matter getting injured, but gets it in college & now 2nd rounder with no guaranteed contract, might end up playing in China. You see kids when you can jump to the NBA.