The Good Witch series has captivated viewers with its enchanting storyline and lovable characters. One of the main reasons for the show's success is the talented cast of actors who bring the beloved characters to life. Starring in the series is Catherine Bell, who portrays the charming Cassie Nightingale. With her natural beauty and warm personality, Bell has become a fan-favorite in the role. Another standout in the series is James Denton, who plays Dr. Sam Radford, Cassie's love interest.

Magic draft picks

Magic fans celebrate at the team’s No. 6 pick at the NBA Draft Party at Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

By Khobi Price | Orlando Sentinel PUBLISHED: June 22, 2023 at 8:43 p.m. | UPDATED: June 23, 2023 at 10:10 a.m.

The Orlando Magic, who entered Thursday’s NBA draft with multiple backcourt options, added another guard to the roster.

The Magic selected Arkansas’ Anthony Black with the No. 6 pick.

Two years after drafting Jalen Suggs at No. 5 in 2021 and selecting Cole Anthony at No. 15 in 2020, Black is the third young guard Orlando’s added through the draft in the last four years.

Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 pick in 2017 who the Magic traded for in February 2019, was Orlando’s starting point guard after returning from a toe injury in December.

But that didn’t prevent the Magic from drafting Black, who many analysts considered one of the best passers and playmakers in this class.

“We approached this draft wanting to add IQ, defensive versatility, size, team orientation and Anthony is one of the smartest players in the draft, maybe the smartest,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. “We feel like he has an elite-level understanding of the game.

“He’s a multi-positional defender at a very high level. Not just he can guard guys, he can guard guys well. His game represents who he is as a person. He’s all about his teammates. He’s all about raising the ceiling for others. He’s a unique talent.”

The Magic once again dipped into the University of Michigan pipeline with their second lottery pick, taking guard/forward Jett Howard at No. 11.

Orlando took fellow Michigan alums Caleb Houstan at No. 32 in last year’s draft and Franz Wagner at No. 8 in the 2021 draft. Moe Wagner, the Magic’s lone free agent, is also a Michigan alum.

Orlando Magic fans celebrate at the team’s number 6 draft pick at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans enjoy themselves at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman fist bumps a member of the media following the Orlando Magic’s draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft during a press conference at the Advent Health Training Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley discusses the Orlando Magic’s draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft during a press conference at the Advent Health Training Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman (left) and head coach Jamahl Mosley discuss the Orlando Magic’s draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft during a press conference at the Advent Health Training Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans react to selections in the NBA Draft at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman looks pleased as he walks to the podium to discuss the Orlando Magic’s draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft during a press conference at the Advent Health Training Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Thousands of Magic fans watch the NBA Draft at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans react to selections in the NBA Draft at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans enjoy themselves at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans react to selections in the NBA Draft at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Young fans have their picture taken with former Orlando Magic player Nick Anderson at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Magic fans enjoy themselves at the Orlando Magic 2023 NBA Draft Party at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday evening, June 22, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Howard, an IMG Academy alum and son of former NBA All-Star and Michigan coach Juwan Howard, averaged 14.2 points (41.4% shooting — 49.6% on 2s, 36.8% on 3s), 2.8 rebounds and 2 assists in his lone season with the Wolverines.

“Jett’s not just a shooter,” Weltman said. “Jett is skilled, he’s got good size but the hidden thing about Jett is he played most of the season injured. We believe there’s more to Jett than he was able to show.

“We feel like a lot of what he was going to show the second half of the season was masked with injury. He’s an easy two-to-the-ball passer. He brings a ton of gravity. We need all of those things.”

Black, a 5-star and 2022 McDonald’s All-American, started from Day One as a freshman at Arkansas.

He averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 36 games en route to being named to the All-Southeastern Conference second team and SEC All-Freshman team. Black was a significant reason why the Razorbacks made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA men’s tournament before falling to UConn, the eventual champion.

At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-7 wingspan, Black is a jumbo guard who could provide high-level playmaking, versatile defense and be a connector on both ends of the floor.

“I take a lot of pride in defense,” Black said. “That’s a lot of the reason I’m here, is my defense. That’s something I can bring from Day One.”

Black trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton and had a scheduled workout for the Magic on June 14.

Offensively, he can make pretty much any pass and has the size to see over defenses. Defensively, he’s versatile and should be able to guard both guard positions and smaller forwards at a high level.

His perimeter shooting is a question mark, as is his ability to consistently create shots for himself off the bounce, but Black should be able to play a variety of roles from the jump.

Howard, who had a June 3 scheduled workout with the Magic, is a high-level shooter who’s effective in shooting off the catch and on pull-ups from beyond the arc.

He’s comfortable shooting off movement, taking pull-up 2s and driving inside the arc for floaters.

“Honestly, I feel like I’ll fit in like a glove with my ability to space the floor and make open shots,” Howard said.

Howard can run pick-and-rolls well within the flow of an offense and is a solid passer/playmaker. He needs to improve in multiple areas defensively, especially when guarding 1-on-1. But he gives effort, and at 6-foot-8, he has the tools to be solid on that end of the floor, too.

“It’s guys who understand where to be: When to move, when to cut, when to make the simple pass — both these guys are able to do that,” coach Jamahl Mosley said of the Magic’s draft picks. “Just making their teammates better. Guys who can just fit in seamlessly to whatever it is we’re doing. With how fast we play, just be able to make quick decisions to help their teammates be better.”

Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

Magic draft picks

Traded • 2020 second round pick (#45-Jordan Nwora) to Bucks for • second round pick (one year after Pacers send second round pick to Nets (?-?) • 2026 second round pick (?-?) on 2020-11-18

Suns (least favorable of Bucks, Magic Pistons picks)

pick may or may not transfer depending on Bucks, Magic, Pistons draft positions

Traded • Magic option to swap 2026 first round picks with Suns (?-?) to Magic for • 2024 second round pick (?-?) • Magic option to swap 2026 first round picks with Suns (?-?) • 2026 second round pick (least favorable of Bucks, Magic Pistons picks) (?-?) • 2028 second round pick (?-?) on 2023-07-17

Magic

Suns (least favorable of Bucks, Magic Pistons picks)

pick may or may not transfer depending on Bucks, Magic, Pistons draft positions

Pistons Clippers

Traded • Rodney McGruder • Landry Shamet • rights to Reggie Perry • cash in a 3-team trade with Nets, Pistons for • Luke Kennard • Justin Patton • rights to Jay Scrubb • 2023 second round pick (from Pistons) (?-?) • 2024 second round pick (from Pistons) (?-?) • 2025 second round pick (from Pistons) (?-?) • 2026 second round pick (from Pistons) (?-?) on 2020-11-19

Magic

Traded • rights to Jason Preston to Clippers for • 2026 second round pick (?-?) • cash on 2021-07-29

Suns (least favorable of Bucks, Magic Pistons picks)

pick may or may not transfer depending on Bucks, Magic, Pistons draft positions

Magic Celtics Magic

Traded • Evan Fournier to Celtics for • Jeff Teague • 2025 second round pick (less favorable of Celtics, Grizzlies picks) (?-?) • 2027 second round pick (?-?) on 2021-03-25

Magic Magic Celtics

Magic (protected top 45)

PICK MAY OR MAY NOT TRANSFER DEPENDING ON CELTICS DRAFT POSITION

Traded • 2023 second round pick (protected top 55) (?-?) to Celtics for • Bol Bol • P.J. Dozier • 2028 second round pick (protected top 45) (?-?) • cash considerations on 2022-02-10

Lakers

Magic (more favorable of Lakers, Wizards picks)

PICK MAY OR MAY NOT TRANSFER DEPENDING ON LAKERS, WIZARDS DRAFT POSITIONS

Traded • 2022 second round pick (#35-Max Christie) to Lakers for • 2028 second round pick (more favorable of Lakers, Wizards picks (?-?) • $2.15M cash on 2022-06-23

Magic Wizards Lakers

Traded • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope • Kyle Kuzma • Montrezl Harrell • rights to Isaiah Jackson in a 5-team trade with Nets, Pacers, Spurs, Wizards for • Russell Westbrook • 2023 second round pick (from Wizards) (?-?) • 2024 second round pick (from Wizards) (less favorable of Grizzlies, Wizards picks) (?-?) • 2028 second round pick (from Wizards) (?-?) on 2021-08-06

Magic (more favorable of Lakers, Wizards picks)

PICK MAY OR MAY NOT TRANSFER DEPENDING ON LAKERS, WIZARDS DRAFT POSITIONS

Traded • 2022 second round pick (#35-Max Christie) to Lakers for • 2028 second round pick (more favorable of Lakers, Wizards picks (?-?) • $2.15M cash on 2022-06-23

NBA Draft: Orlando Magic looking at all options with two first-round picks

Sam Radford, Cassie's love interest. Denton's charm and charisma make him the perfect match for Bell's Cassie. Not to be forgotten is Bailee Madison, who portrays Grace Russell, Cassie's daughter.

Fans can watch the draft at Amway Center on Thursday night

Published: June 19, 2023, 2:37 PM Updated: June 19, 2023, 2:44 PM Tags: Sports , NBA , Orlando Magic , Magic , NBA Draft , Basketball

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Jalen Suggs #4 of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball as Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends during the fourth quarter at Amway Center on April 04, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) (Douglas P. DeFelice, 2023 Douglas P. DeFelice)

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic come into the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night armed with the sixth and eleventh overall picks.

“We have two lottery picks, and it’s a pretty good draft,” Jeff Weltman, the Magic president of basketball operations, said to the media on Monday. “We’re looking at a lot of good options. We can go a number of ways, both sticking to the draft or moving around a little bit. There are several options in front of us.”

The No. 6 and No. 11 picks came from the NBA Draft Lottery back in May. The Magic secured the No. 11 pick as an exchange from the Chicago Bulls in the Nikola Vučević trade back in 2021. They also have pick No. 36 in the second round.

“There’s a lot to process for us,” Weltman added. “We all try to get our work done early so that we can kind of predict the unpredictable and organized chaos. The flexibility we now have to go through this process has been hard-earned. It’s not fun to go through tough seasons, but we did it with an objective in mind.”

Last year, the Magic selected Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall draft pick. He went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year, averaging 20 points per game. The Magic will look to build upon steady success from last year, improving to 34 wins and contending for a play-in spot for the playoffs, as well as build a team around their young stars.

“We want to play better basketball,” Weltman said. “We want to make better decisions. We want to have our awareness and maturity level really start to elevate itself and become more of a veteran team. That said, not at the expense of doing what we are doing, which is growing a team organically with young, talented, high character players and trying to maintain as much flexibility through the process as possible.”

Fans can watch the NBA Draft for free at the Amway Center on Thursday. They will need to download a ticket on the Magic site with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The Draft begins Thursday at 8 p.m.

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Madison's talent and grace as an actress shine through in her performance, making her character an integral part of the series. Rounding out the main cast is the talented Hannah Endicott-Douglas, who plays Lori Russell, Cassie's stepdaughter. Endicott-Douglas brings a youthful energy and spunk to her role, creating a dynamic character that viewers connect with. The chemistry between the four stars is undeniable and is a significant factor in the show's popularity. With their captivating performances, these actors have made The Good Witch series a must-watch for fans of heartwarming and magical storytelling..

Reviews for "From Pages to Screens: The Good Witch Series Stars in Focus"

1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch the "Stars of the Good Witch Series," but I ended up feeling disappointed. The storyline felt repetitive and predictable, and the characters lacked depth and development. The magical elements that made the original series so charming were missing in this spin-off. Overall, it just didn't capture the same magic and failed to live up to my expectations.

2. Michael - 1 star - I found "Stars of the Good Witch Series" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The plot was slow-moving and had no real tension or excitement. The acting felt forced, and the chemistry between the actors was lacking. It felt like a cheap attempt to capitalize on the success of the original series without putting in any effort to create an engaging storyline. I couldn't finish watching it and regretted wasting my time on this disappointing spin-off.

3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of the original Good Witch series, I had high hopes for "Stars of the Good Witch Series," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The addition of new characters and storylines didn't blend well with the established world, and it felt disjointed and disconnected. The writing was weak, with cliched dialogue and plotlines that lacked originality. While it was nice to see some familiar faces, it wasn't enough to save the series from its overall mediocrity.

4. Jason - 1 star - "Stars of the Good Witch Series" was a complete letdown. The plot was convoluted and poorly executed, making it difficult to follow or invest in the story. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, and the character development was non-existent. It felt like a cash grab rather than a genuine attempt to continue the success of the original series. I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this spin-off and would not recommend it to anyone.

Magical Portrayals: The Good Witch Series Stars' Acting Range

The Good Witch Series: The Perfect Blend of Talent and Charm

The Good Witch Series: Celebrating the Phenomenal Talent of its Stars

Magic draft picks

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Magic draft picks

NBA Draft: Orlando Magic looking at all options with two first-round picks

Fans can watch the draft at Amway Center on Thursday night

Reviews for "From Pages to Screens: The Good Witch Series Stars in Focus"

Magical Portrayals: The Good Witch Series Stars' Acting Range

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