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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag: Memorial Day means NBA Draft time

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 23, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (L) warms up against prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (L) warms up against prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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It is officially NBA Draft season. We are getting ready to dive deep into the Orlando Magic’s Draft. So it is time to open the OMD Mailbag.

The NBA season is nearing its end.

The NBA Finals will begin Thursday to bring the 2017 season to a close. It is the matchup everyone has anticipated the entire season. The rubber match between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. It should be an exciting two weeks of basketball to reach its close.

The NBA season, though, is a loop. There is no end or break for many of the teams. As the Finals end, Draft preparation begins.

The Orlando Magic have long been preparing for the NBA Draft, both internally and then externally with the first batch of individual workouts. Since the NBA Draft Combine, Orlando has seemingly had prospects in every day — some publicly announced, others not.

Dennis Smith and Zach Collins are the only Lottery prospects who have been to Orlando as of yet. But that is likely to increase dramatically as the Draft gets closer. There are officially three weeks to go before the NBA Draft.

The Magic added in the last piece to their draft preparation this week, hiring president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond. The team has its top decision makers in place. Previous interim general manager Matt Lloyd is still part of the process for now. Until further notice, his input and the preparations he made will help guide the Magic.

But as soon as Weltman gets settled into his office, to be sure he will be diving straight into draft prep. With four picks in this year’s draft — Nos. 6, 25, 33 and 35 — this is an opportunity to put his imprint on the roster and begin building his team.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

It is yet unclear what direction the Magic will go. They certainly believe they can get a star with the sixth overall pick. As they should. That player will likely be central to the Magic’s next phase.

What else they do is anyone’s guess at the moment.

Orlando Magic Daily is getting ready to dive deeper into the Draft. Starting Memorial Day, we will begin our yearly draft profiles. And with the Magic holding a lot of picks, there are a lot of players to profile and address. Orlando will have plenty of options when it comes to the Draft. And there are a lot of players to get through (we certainly will not get through them all).

Since it is Memorial Day and there is little going on with the Magic, and since the Magic’s future is as uncertain, exciting and hopeful as ever with new management, it is time to open up the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag once again!

Send me YOUR Orlando Magic questions on the NBA Draft, the team as it stands now, offseason moves and just about anything. I am happy to provide my answers.

You can submit questions in the comment section below, by leaving a comment on our Facebook page, on Twitter by tweeting at me @omagicdaily or by e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com.

Next: Orlando Magic prepared to invest in basketball operations

I look forward to answering your questions!