The 2025 NBA Draft is in the books, and the Orlando Magic came away with two terrific prospects. PFSN graded each team’s draft class, and the Magic were one of two teams to earn a perfect A+ grade for their selections. Let’s break down each pick and explain why Orlando crushed the 2025 NBA Draft.
Also, check out PFSN’s free NBA Mock Draft Simulator to get a glimpse of the 2026 NBA Draft class because it’s never too early to look ahead to next year’s draft!
Grading the Orlando Magic’s 2025 NBA Draft
Overall Draft Grade: A+
- Round 1, Pick 26
Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan State
Grade: A+ - Round 2, Pick 32
Noah Penda, F, France
Grade: A
Coming off consecutive playoff appearances, the Orlando Magic didn’t just show up to the 2025 NBA Draft, they dominated it.
A front office that’s already built a strong foundation around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just added two more perfect-fit pieces.
The result? An A+ haul that should help fuel a deeper postseason run.
Let’s start with Jase Richardson, the smooth, smart combo guard out of Michigan State.
He’s not the same kind of athlete his dad Jason was, he’s something different. Richardson is steady. He’s polished. And he’s already figured out how to impact games without needing the ball in his hands much.
At MSU, he thrived as a low-usage, high-efficiency player, knocking down shots with great touch and making sharp decisions off the bounce.
As the season wore on, he flashed real shot-creation skills in the pick-and-roll, quietly becoming one of the best ball-screen scorers in the country. He defends, he thinks the game at a high level, and he knows how to play next to stars.
He’s the kind of player who can elevate a second unit or close out games alongside Banchero, Wagner, and Desmond Bane.
Orlando was mocked to take him at No. 16 before trading that pick to Memphis.
Getting him at No. 25? Steal.
Then came the trade-up. On night two, the Magic made an aggressive move to grab Noah Penda at No. 32, sending out future capital to do it.
It was worth it.
Penda had a first-round grade on plenty of boards and for good reason. The French forward is 6’8”, 225 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan and the kind of mature defensive instincts you rarely see from a 20-year-old.
He’s a defensive Swiss Army knife who flies into passing lanes, helps on the weak side, and switches everything. He plays like a pro already.
The offense is still developing, he’ll need to tighten the handle and keep working on the jumper, but there’s a clear 3-and-D foundation here with upside to grow into more.
Together, Richardson and Penda give the Magic two high-IQ, two-way players who don’t need touches to make an impact. They complement the core, bring different strengths to the table, and fit the timeline.
Orlando didn’t just draft for talent. They drafted with vision. That’s how you get an A+.