Presto in the Paint 5-on-5: NBA Draft

Mar 19, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo (4) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

3. Outside of making their two selections, do the Magic make any “big” moves on draft night? (i.e. Trading Arron Afflalo) Why or why not?

Oliver: My gut tells me they won’t, and everything I’ve heard tells me they won’t. That said… It wouldn’t surprise me. Hennigan has preached that they’re going to build through the draft, and grow the team “organically” so, moving Afflalo to get another pick might be something they do. However, they’ve had, and will continue to have, a high asking price for Afflalo, whom they covet as not only a player, but a locker room guy and leader for the young bunch they have. If a deal does happen, I think the team to look at the most is the Charlotte Hornets, who hold picks nine and 24.

Haynes: To answer the question: No. I don’t see Orlando making any major moves during the draft. Doesn’t seem like the Oklahoma City/San Antonio thing to do, Kawhi Leonard trade withstanding. However, I think should dangle Andrew Nicholson or other compensation to move back into that top 35. Looking at DraftExpress’s mock draft, here are some names here in that top 40 area: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cleanthony Early, C.J. Wilcox, Damien Inglis, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. All five of those guys could be very interesting three-and-D players, with Inglis and Dinwiddie impressing me the most. If Orlando doesn’t add a shooter with their first two picks, I think looking to move back in the draft isn’t the worst idea in the world.

Cleary: I’m going to be the contrarian so far on this question and say that Afflalo gets traded on draft night for a third lottery pick. It would allow the Magic to deal Afflalo while his stock is still at an all-time high and capitalize on building more through the draft. If the Magic are able to trade Afflalo for another top-ten pick, they do it and they do it quickly.

Palmer: Does it count if I think they’ll trade one of their two picks? Up until this Embiid injury I expected Orlando to deal Afflalo for a lotto pick and deal two lotto picks to move up into the top seven. Now I believe Orlando will be looking to trade down from four unless Embiid unexpectedly goes top three. I have no idea what Orlando’s board looks like but if Marcus Smart and Noah Vonleh have similar grades it makes a lot of sense to trade down with the Celtics and collect some more assets.

Smith: I’ll go ahead and say that I don’t think that they’ll make a big move, but I do believe that a small one will be made. Arron Afflalo’s name has been swirling around the rumor mill, but unless Orlando is blown away by an offer, it’s just hard to see them trading him for the hell of it. With that being said, something tells me that they’ll make a transaction on a smaller scale… one that could possibly net a second round pick. They’ve been working guys out recently who are projected to go in that range, and there’s some solid talent there, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take that route.