Orlando Magic Daily
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Where you pick in the NBA Draft matters

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Aaron Gordon (Arizona) poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Aaron Gordon (Arizona) poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Long Shot

Last Magic No. 8 Pick: None
2014 No. 8 Pick: Nik Stauskas — 0.021 WS/48
Last No. 8 Pick All Star: Vin Baker (1993) — 0.088 WS/48
2015 Odds for Magic: 0.37%

Only four players drafted eighth have become NBA All-Stars since 1980. Vin Baker is the only one since 1985. Think about that.

If you do not remember, Baker was one of the most versatile power forwards in the league at one point. The Lockout happened in 1999, he gained a lot of weight and was never the same player. While he has recovered in his life now, Baker is a cautionary tale for many young players.

The eighth pick has produced many cautionary tales and very few quality players. Stauskas was largely a disappointment his rookie season (aside from the “Sauce Castillo” fun). Jordan Hill (over DeMar DeRozan), Al-Farou Aminu (over Gordon Hayward), Brandon Knight (a solid pick), Terrence Ross (over Andre Drummond) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (jury is still out) make up the previous five eighth overall selections.

You can see there are a lot of picks based on potential, maybe a few for consistency, but little has panned out.

And so really with this pick, you are more likely getting a decent contributor rather than anyone that can definitely and assuredly help you. Even Drummond was a project at that point.

Next: Conclusion