NBA Draft grades: Jett Howard a polarizing first-round pick
Michigan basketball wing Jett Howard was selected with the No. 11 overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. It wound up being a selection that drew plenty of reactions from both sides of the aisle on Thursday night.
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• Michigan wing Jett Howard selected by Orlando Magic in lottery of 2023 NBA Draft
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Here’s a look at some of the draft grades from around the internet about the former Michigan star.
CBS Sports
A late-blooming guard who some people had in the top 10 made huge strides this year. People need to understand how young Bufkin is as an explanation for his low impact as a freshman in 2021-22 — he’s younger than many one-and-done players this year. Bufkin can play on or off the ball and provide an insurance policy for the Hawks deciding what the future is with Trae Young. Grade: A-
SB Nation
This one was a little bit of a surprise, but I really like it for Orlando. The Magic needed a shooter. Most assumed Kansas’ Gradey Dick would have been the pick here, but Howard is almost as good with his jumper while still being a superior shot creator off the dribble. The issue with Howard is he isn’t a great athlete and struggles defensively. Well, the Magic got a great defender in Anthony Black with their first pick in this draft. Howard’s size (6’8) and shooting fits right in with Orlando’s promising core. Grade: B+
Bleacher Report
The Magic entered the night with a clear need for shooting, and using the No. 6 pick on Anthony Black did little to address that. Clearly, that was the motivation behind this pick, but it could be the night’s first big reach.
Howard has NBA pedigree as the son of longtime pro (and his college coach) Juwan Howard, plus the size, shooting and basketball IQ to carve out a lengthy career of his own. He is a lights-out shooter with his feet set and a potential sharpshooter on the move. He is comfortable (though not dynamic) with the ball in his hands, either side-stepping for threes or making the simple, smart pass to an open teammate.
But he isn’t a great athlete by NBA standards, and that could limit his utility as a defender. It’s hard to project which players Orlando will even ask him to defend, since he’s had trouble against both quickness and strength.
If the Magic were fine with a shooting specialist, why not Gradey Dick or Jordan Hawkins instead? If they wanted shooting and more, why not stop Cam Whitmore’s skid here? This one is a puzzler.
Grade: D
The Athletic
This is the second year in a row the Magic have drafted a limited one-and-done from Michigan with a rep as a shooter; Jett Howard can now fight Caleb Houstan for minutes behind Orlando’s surfeit of forwards. Honestly, I’m a bit befuddled here; if Orlando wanted a pure shooter the best bet on the board was clearly Gradey Dick. Perhaps his resplendent red suit caused the Mgaic to re-evaluate at the last minute? More seriously, I have to think trading down would have still let them get Howard if he was their guy.
Also, can we talk about how much Cam Whitmore is sliding? I mean, he very, very clearly has way more upside than Howard and plays the same position. Were the medicals that bad?
Yahoo! Sports
Jett comes from an NBA pedigree with his dad, Juwan, playing almost 20 years in the NBA. Jett is a solid outside shooter, particularly in catch-and-shoot situations. Howard needs to improve his lateral quickness on defense but makes up for it with his length. He joins Orlando’s very crowded backcourt. Grade: C-
Sporting News
The Magic address a massive void for a perimeter shooter, but Howard is an interesting choice with prospects like Gradey Dick and Jordan Hawkins on the board. However, Howard will still provide Orlando with a 3-point marksman who has the potential to be a versatile defender with a 6-8 frame if it can get him to buy in on that side of the ball. Grade: B
