6:56pm: Wojnarowski (Twitter link) now classifies Banchero as the frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick.
6:48pm: Duke forward Paolo Banchero remains “very much” in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick, Adrian Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s draft broadcast. Wojnarowski has since reported on Twitter that Banchero has emerged as a “significant possibility” to be drafted first overall (Twitter links).
The Magic are expected to select either Auburn’s Jabari Smith or Banchero, according to Wojnarowski, who says there’s a “real chance” teams’ draft boards could be blown up.
Virtually all reporting leading up to draft night has had Smith as the favorite to go first overall, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony suggesting earlier this week that it would be a major surprise to most teams around the NBA if Smith isn’t Orlando’s pick.
As we relayed earlier today, oddsmakers around the country briefly made Banchero the betting favorite to be the No. 1 pick late last night, but those odds shifted back strongly in Smith’s favor after Wojnarowski reported this morning that the top three – with Smith to Orlando, Chet Holmgren to the Thunder, and Banchero to the Rockets – looked “increasingly firm.”
Paolo could play alongside Franz & JI alot easier than Jabari could. Same goes for Orlando’s guards. Jabari would be better with a pass 1st pg (like Giddey). Paolo can easily play with scoring guards like Cole, Suggs or Markelle
You should not be worrying about fit with number 1 imo.
If only Paulo could pay a little defense…
Lol it begins
Paulo will bust like everyone else from Duke. Same thing every year.
Wait a min, I thought Woj said it was firm 1-3 earlier. Was that fake news?
This feels like a move by Orlando to add 17 or 26
Sanity prevails!!! When you have the number one pick, don’t think too hard, don’t worry about fit, just take the best player!!
Why not post the same thing in every draft thread? Give it a rest son
Okay hater. Why does this bother you? I’m excited for the magic, they made a great pick
There’s no damage to draft boards… the top 3 will go fast.
“Blown up”. The only thing that changes is Houston gets Jabari instead of Paolo
That’s hardly a “blow up”