With the 2022 NBA Draft Combine in the rearview, team's draft boards are starting to come into focus. This is especially true at the very top of the draft.

The Orlando Magic have said they will be thorough in their process leading up to the draft, where they hold the first overall pick. However, most rival teams believe that the Magic will select Jabari Smith of Auburn with the top pick.

Reports are that Smith is excited about the opportunity to go to Orlando.

The same is true of Gonzaga product Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who most teams expect will be paired at the second overall selection.

The top three prospects in the draft are widely considered to be Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero of Duke. While neither Orlando nor Oklahoma City will rule out Banchero at one or two, it's expected they're both choosing between Smith and Holmgren.

Jabari Smith has emerged as the closest to a consensus top prospect of the 2022 NBA Draft class among scouts, but rival executives and league personnel believe the Orlando Magic will favor Chet Holmgren at No. 1.

While there is little consensus on what order Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero will be drafted, they are expected to be the top-3 players off the board in some offer.

The Orlando front office is known to prefer long players dating back to their time with the Milwaukee Bucks.

There is also connective tissue between Holmgren and Jalen Suggs as they high school teammates. Holmgren and Suggs also both played collegiately for Gonzaga. 

The Orlando Magic had some luck and moved up the first overall pick at the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery. That puts Orlando in position to make their choice out of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero at the top of the draft.

With the Magic in position to select a top-rated big man, the franchise is now likely to move on from Mo Bamba this summer. Bamba is eligible to be a restricted free agent, but Orlando already has Wendell Carter Jr. signed long-term and is set to add another big to the mix.

If the Magic don't tender Bamba a qualifying offer, and they renounce his free agent rights (as well as the rights to players who are also unlikely to return), they can create nearly $28 million in cap space. While Orlando isn't set to make a big free agent push at this point their rebuild, that's good flexibility to be used via signings or trades this offseason.

The Orlando Magic won the lottery this week and will have the opportunity to add to their frontcourt as the top of the draft is dominated by a trio of power forwards in Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. 

"This is the draft lottery of the power forwards and three very different players," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "We'll see how this shakes out, but certainly I think Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga and Jabari Smith of Auburn... I think the consensus right now is those are really the two players competing for No. 1 with the Magic."

ESPN's Jonathan Givony currently has Smith going to the Magic at No. 1, followed by Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2. NBADraft.net currently mocks Holmgren to the Magic at No. 1 with Smith to the Thunder at No. 2. 

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman discussed his strategy after winning the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, adding that he's keeping all of his options open.

"I know we'll have a lot of interesting discussions with teams," Weltman told ESPN. "Obviously we don't go into this thing looking to trade our pick."

Weltman was initially supposed to represent the team on stage, but was replaced by Jamahl Mosley at the last minute. The Magic initially had a 14% chance at getting the top pick.

Weltman discussed the attributes he's looking for in the selection, though did not mention any specific names.

"We look to add a really talented, young, high-character guy to our talent base and our roster. I have no expectations on it. Obviously, we'll continue to do our work. This really doesn't change much of the way that we'll approach the draft.

"We're just really excited to be able to fall in love with somebody and pick that player," added Weltman.

The upcoming draft represents the first time the Magic have had the top pick since 2004, when they selected Dwight Howard.

The Orlando Magic have won the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery for the fourth time in franchise history. 

Some combination of Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero are expected to be the top-3 selections in the draft. ESPN's Jonathan Givony projects Smith going No. 1 to the Magic, followed by Holmgren to the Thunder, Banchero to the Rockets, Shaedon Sharpe to the Kings, and Keegan Murray to the Pistons. 

1. Magic

2. Thunder

3. Rockets

4. Kings

5. Pistons

6. Pacers

7. Blazers

8. Pelicans (via LAL)

9. Spurs

10. Wizards

11. Knicks

12. Thunder (via LAC)

13. Hornets

14. Cavaliers

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac hasn't taken the floor for a game the past two seasons, yet he remains visible due to his stance on the COVID vaccine and refusal to kneel during the bubble. At a rally sponsored by the "ReAwaken America Tour", Isaac spoke about those topics and more.

Isaac explained he feels that the COVID vaccine felt forced.

“Viewing it, it seemed forced. It seemed that there was so much pressure in doing it,” Isaac said. “I don’t see the wisdom in putting something into my body that’s not going to stop me from getting the virus or transmitting it. That is why I decided to be the only player on my team to not get vaccinated.”

Isaac also promoted his book "Why I Stand" while at the rally. He wrote the book after refusing to kneel in solidarity with his teammates in the NBA bubble following the murder of George Floyd.

Jonathan Isaac has missed the entirety of the last two seasons. As such, the final three years of his contract with the Orlando Magic have become partially guaranteed.

Isaac's salary was initially fully guaranteed at $17.4 million per season through 2024-25. Because Isaac didn't meet games played thresholds specified in his deal, his final three seasons now have varying guaranteed amounts.

The 2022-23 is partially guaranteed at $16 million. 2023-24 is guaranteed for just $7.6 million. And the final season, in 2024-25 is now fully non-guaranteed.

Isaac's cap hit will remain $17.4 million per season, as Orlando will only receive cap relief if Isaac is waived. There's no indication that waiving the versatile forward is on the table at this time. Isaac recently said he's feeling good and hopes to be fully available to play at the start of next season.

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has missed the last two NBA seasons, as he's rehabbed from multiple knee injuries suffered during the 2020 re-start in the bubble. Now there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for Isaac.

“I feel great, I’m doing really good,” Isaac said in April. “I know there was the whole hiccup with my right hamstring, but I feel great. I’m really looking forward to coming back next season and being able to play. I’m all good.”

In five NBA seasons, Isaac has played in just 136 games. In 2020, Isaac suffered a knee injury on January 1. He was set to miss the remainder of the season, but the pause in the season due to the pandemic allowed him to return at the end of July. In his second game in the bubble, Isaac blew out his left knee.

Despite missing the entirety of the last two seasons, Isaac said he's been working hard to get back on the court.

“The biggest thing they see is games played and that you haven’t played in so long, but they don’t know the work that goes in day in and day out,” Isaac said when asked about the rehab process. “The meticulous grind of it all. It just takes time. As much as I want it to go faster, it’s just part of the process and the plan. Looking forward to coming back next season.”

Jalen Suggs underwent surgery last week to address a slight stress fracture in his right ankle.

He is expected to resume basketball activities this summer and make a full recovery for the start of training camp.

“In assessing Jalen’s right ankle at the conclusion of the season, and consulting with multiple doctors, we came to the determination to undergo this preventative measure,” said Weltman. “We feel by addressing this now Jalen can still have a productive summer leading into training camp.”