NBA Draft 2013: Magic will pick between Trey Burke, Ben McLemore, according to report

The Magic will look for some backcourt help with the second pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, according to a report.

May 23, 2013, 1:05 AM UTC

Tom Pennington

The Orlando Magic missed out on the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, but they already have an idea of what they will do with the second pick, according to a report.

Orlando will reportedly choose either shooting guard Ben McLemore from Kansas or Michigan point guard Trey Burke. Pre-draft workouts and interviews, as well as what Cleveland does with the No. 1 pick, may be what ultimately determines the Magic’s choice.

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Both players will be able to help the Orlando backcourt immediately, as Pro Basketball Draft points out. ESPN’s Chad Ford seems to think it will be Burke, pointing out his intangibles.

“Orlando needs a leader, someone with moxie, and Burke seems like the best fit,” Ford wrote.

This could be key, since GM Rob Hennigan has already said that he wants players who “are about the right things” and can help sustain success in Orlando for years to come.

Burke brings much more than just leadership. He led the national runner-up Wolverines in points (18.6) and assists (6.7) per game last year with impressive shooting numbers across the board. He also showed consistency, scoring in double figures in every game during the 2012-13 regular season.

The Magic might also need depth at the point with Beno Udrih's future uncertain. Udrih is an unrestricted free agent and might not be back in Orlando next year. That would leave Jameer Nelson as the team's only true point guard, which would make Burke a logical pick. Nelson also has two years left on his current deal, though the second is a team option, so Burke can quickly become the team's leading floor general.

If Orlando decides against Burke, however, it would likely be because McLemore’s talent is just too overwhelming to pass up. As Ford put it, McLemore might be “the player with the best upside in the draft.”

With room still left for improvement, he has already drawn comparisons to veteran Ray Allen, especially with his knack for hitting threes consistently. McLemore was a 42 percent shooter from beyond the arc last season. He's also highly athletic, but plays within himself and doesn't force the issue.

McLemore would also figure to be an excellent complement to Arron Afflalo, the team's leading scorer. Afflalo might have been asked to do a little too much at times last season before a hamstring injury ended his year prematurely.

Afflalo also, however, could be the reason Orlando passes on McLemore. Would the Magic really need another shooting guard that can play starter minutes? Though the answer is probably no, Orlando might be looking to take someone who could be the centerpiece of a team 3-5 years down the road, not someone who slots into an empty hole right away. The Magic could also shift Afflalo to small forward and push Tobias Harris to power forward to make room.