1. Landing with the Magic should make Richardson’s NBA draft wait worth it
Jase Richardson had to wait to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA draft Wednesday night. But that was never his concern. In some ways, it was his preference. Or at least his family’s preference. They wanted a good culture and fit for him more than they wanted him to be near the top of the draft — a place where he could impact winning while he develops as a player. He’ll get that with the Orlando Magic, which took Richardson with the 25th overall pick Wednesday night.
The Magic were one of three teams in that range I thought would be ideal for Richardson. If they hadn’t taken him, the Brooklyn Nets had the next two picks. Going to Orlando perhaps also helped him avoid that NBA wasteland.
In Orlando, Richardson joins a team on the rise, one of the favorites in the East next season, but a team that isn’t entirely settled at point guard long-term and could use another offensive creator, scorer — and shooter — in the backcourt off the bench. The Magic were last in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season.
I don’t know how much Richardson will play early, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he works his way into a role as the season goes along. He’s got so much skill and court savvy and offers helpful versatility. And he can shoot — he made 41% of his 3s last season at MSU with his high-arcing left-handed shot. There’s an opening to fill the role Cole Anthony played for the Magic last season. Anthony was a spark plug off the bench, but was part of the recent trade that brought Desmond Bane to the Magic.
Orlando has an expensive roster that’ll get more expensive when it has to pay star Paolo Banchero a max deal — joinining the max contracts of Franz Wagner and Bane, and the $30 million annual salary of Jalen Suggs. Building out the roster is going to be tricky with the NBA’s new restrictions. Inexpensive rookies like Richardson, who will make a little over $3 million a year on his rookie contract, are the Magic’s best path to doing so.
And, again, this is a team with a lot of great pieces, but not necessarily a point guard who anyone is certain can get the Magic where they want to go. Suggs is best off the ball offensively. Same for Bane. And third-year point guard Anthony Black has so far looked serviceable but nothing more.
Richardson could fill a number of needs — or at least has the potential to do so. I can see why they made the pick.
2. What Richardson will be as an NBA player
As a 6-foot guard, Richardson is going to make his living mostly on the ball. I think he could turn into an ideal guard for a team whose stars are on the wing or elsewhere. Richardson doesn’t need the offense to go through him or begin with him to have an impact — In Orlando, it goes through Banchero. But Richardson’s ball-handling, playmaking and shot-making — if it translates to the NBA level at some point — will take pressure off Banchero, Wagner and Bane.
I doubt we’ll know Richardson’s NBA level as quickly as we realized his level in the college game. But he’ll have time to grow in Orlando. I trust he’ll figure it out. He’s that kind of player. He’ll be needed there, too. And he’ll get to do it all on a winning team that’s very likely to be playing deep into the playoffs the next few seasons.
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3. A look at Richardson’s MSU legacy
In being selected No. 25 overall Wednesday night, Jase Richardson becomes the seventh Spartan projected to be in the NBA next season — joining Max Christie (2022 draft), Xavier Tillman (2020), Jaren Jackson Jr. (2018), Miles Bridges (2018), Gary Harris (2014) and Draymond Green (2012) — and the 12th first-round NBA draft pick from MSU in the Tom Izzo era, the first since Jackson and Bridges seven years ago. His dad, Jason, went fifth overall 24 years ago after his sophomore season.
Jase Richardson is the fifth MSU freshman to make the leap — joining Christie, Jackson, Deyonta Davis (2016) and Zach Randolph (2001). Richardson, Jackson and Randolph were all first-round picks, with Christie and Davis going at the beginning of the second round.
Richardson’s legacy at MSU is built around a dazzling freshman season that no one saw coming. Even Richardson will tell you he thought he’d be in East Lansing for a couple seasons. He’ll be remembered for an incredible February and March, for being the catalyst for the program’s first Big Ten championship in five years and a sorely needed run deep into the NCAA tournament. He brought a lot of joy to MSU and its fan base.
He’ll be beloved for that. I have him ranked No. 44 all-time at MSU, despite his short stay. He also now has a chance to build on that MSU legacy as an impact NBA player.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Couch: 3 quick takes on Jase Richardson’s fit and potential with the NBA’s Orlando Magic
Reporting by Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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