Magic’s Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner among top 2 picks – The Denver Post

The Orlando Magic “Rising Stars” will be on opposing teams during All-Star Weekend after being taken with the top two picks in Tuesday’s draft.

Pau Gasol took Magic rookie forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick while Deron Williams selected Magic second-year forward Franz Wagner with the No. 2 pick in the Rising Stars Draft.

Former NBA stars Gasol, Williams, Joakim Noah and Jason Terry are the honorary coaches for the Rising Stars tournament, which will be played Feb. 17 at Vivint Arena as part of All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.

“I have to pick a player who is having a great year,” Gasol said before signing Banchero, the first pick in the NBA Draft last year. “Extremely talented. For me, if you look at this list, he’s probably the first guy to make the All-Star Game – probably in a year or two.

Banchero has a team average of 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.7 minutes (47 games). He leads all rookies in scoring and is second among rookies and sophomores, only behind Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (21.6 points). Banchero was the Eastern Conference’s consecutive Rookie of the Month for games played in December and January.

“I’m going to go with Paolo’s teammate – Franz Wagner, who himself is having a hell of a season,” Williams said before signing Wagner. “He is playing very well this year. Play for my coach [Jamahl] Mosley in Orlando. Child very clutch. We will definitely need it.

Wagner, the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft, is averaging 19.5 points (48.6% shooting, 36.9% on 3s), 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33.2 minutes (53 games). He is the third scorer among rookies and sophomores. Wagner was named to the 2021-22 All-Rookie First Team and played in the Rising Stars tournament last year.

The Rising Stars format, which was changed last season, features four teams of seven players competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games (two semi-finals and a championship contest) instead of a single exhibition like the previous years.

Each game will be played according to a target score. The two semi-final games – Game 1 and Game 2 – will be played until a team reaches 40 points while Game 3 will be played until a team reaches 25 points to determine the tournament champion.

The 28-man squad for Rising Stars consists of 11 rookies, 10 NBA sophomores and seven G League players.

The 21 NBA players were drafted into three seven-man squads by Gasol, Noah and Williams. The G League players will be part of the fourth team and will be coached by Terry.

Paul’s team

• Paolo Banchero (Magic);
• Benoit Mathurin (Pacers);
• Jaden Ivey (Pistons);
• Scottie Barnes (Raptors);
• Jose Alvarado (Pelicans);
• Keegan Murray (Kings);
• Andrew Nembhard (Pacers).

Team Deron

• Franz Wagner (Magic);
• Jalen Green (Rockets);
• Alperen Sengun (Rockets);
• Trey Murphy III (Pelicans);
• AJ Griffin (Hawks);
• Bones Hyland (nuggets);
• Walker Kesler (Jazz).

Team Joakim

• Evan Mobley (riders);
• Josh Giddey (Thunder);
• Jalen Williams (Thunder);
• Jeremy Sochan (Spurs);
• Quentin Grimes (Knicks);
• Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets);
• Jalen Duren (Pistons).

Team G League

• Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite;
• Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite;
• Mojave King, G League Ignite;
• Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle;
• Mac McClung, Delaware Bluecoats;
• Leonard Miller, G League Ignite;
• Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Prize to khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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