As President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman searches for a "fresh voice" to elevate the franchise's ceiling past the first round, the Orlando Magic must also address an ongoing roster deficiency on the perimeter: the lack of a dynamic, downhill playmaker.

Enter Vanderbilt sophomore point guard Tyler Tanner, a prospect who forces front offices to balance historic high-major analytics against rigid physical limitations. After going unheralded as a three-star freshman, Tanner executed an explosive sophomore breakout, earning First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive honors while averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, and an elite 2.4 steals per game. Despite measuring just under 6 feet tall at the NBA Draft Combine, Tanner dictates the game with an astonishing processing speed collapsing defenses at will, reading rotations before help can materialize, and turning around to pick pockets on the opposite end.

Yahoo Sports recently projected the Orlando Magic to select Vanderbilt point guard Tyler Tanner with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. Operating with limited draft capital this offseason, Weltman must maximize the team's late-round assets to ensure long-term roster sustainability. Above all else, the Magic enter the draft desperately requiring backcourt scoring depth and primary playmaking. Tanner fits that perfectly, offering a dynamic, high-feel offensive spark that outweighs his definitive height concerns at the next level. 

“Tanner enrolled at Vanderbilt as a three-star recruit, stayed off draft boards as a freshman, and then blew up as a sophomore. He became the kind of player where you’d watch him and think: How is nobody stopping this guy,” Yahoo Sports wrote. “He’s under 6-feet tall, but he gets wherever he wants on the floor, makes reads before the defense has time to rotate, and then turns around and picks your pocket on the other end. His height is a concern, though, because the NBA has a poor track record with guards his size, especially when it comes to playoff basketball. Tanner didn’t help himself either after struggling in the Draft Combine scrimmages, so he could be better off returning to college. But maybe long term, Tanner can be one of the exceptions since he plays bigger than his body.”

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