Nate Wolters: He could be a second round pick for Orlando Magic

2013 NBA Draft: Orlando Magic Might Look at Nate Wolters For Guard Help

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic would prefer taking Ben McLemore with the NBA‘s No. 2 pick to strengthen their backcourt, but many are predicting the Cleveland Cavaliers to take him instead, and the Magic will be forced to go with a big man in Nerlens Noel, simply because he’s too good of a player not to take.

The Magic don’t draft again until No. 51, and they might make a trade for a higher pick to get the guard of their choice.

If they stay at 51, one excellent guard prospect who might be available and could eventually give the Magic some help is Nate Wolters from South Dakota State. He’s projected to go somewhere between picks 33 and 61.

He has impressive stats and could prove to be a better NBA prospect than he’s getting credit for in the long run.

In his senior season at South Dakota State, Wolters averaged 38.1 minutes, 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals a game. He shot 48.5 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent in 3-pointers and 81.3 percent in free throws. Those are all good numbers.

He’s also considered to be a smart player with excellent ball-handling abilities and is a good shooter. He likes getting his teammates into the game. That’s exactly the type of player the Magic sorely needs if they’re to return to being a playoff contender again.

The main concern would be the competition he played in college compared to what he’ll see in the NBA, but many stars in the league have come from unknown schools, and Wolters might be the next such player.