Where you pick in the NBA Draft matters
Conclusion
So, in reviewing all this, the mission becomes clear. As you would expect, the higher you draft, the better chance you have of getting a star. But really the only place you can almost guarantee yourself an All Star is at the top pick. Everything else is a crap shoot.
Maybe that talks to the risk and danger of the Magic’s chosen method of rebuilding.
They hoped to get a star through the Draft, did not win the Lottery and had to make the best of the situation they were put in.
In Victor Oladipo, they appear to have a solid player. In Aaron Gordon, they took a project. There is no guarantee either will be All Stars.
Now slated to draft fifth, and more likely drafting sixth, the Magic are probably not expecting to get an All Star in this year’s Draft. The hope is they will, but they are probably more looking at getting a starter and solid contributor.
Orlando is still building up its cache of young assets. Perhaps that is in a move to make a trade for that solid All Star. Perhaps that is in hopes of finding a coach who can implement a system to take advantage of the group’s talents.
The Draft will make things a little bit clearer for the Magic. But all this is to suggest, the 2015 Draft remains only a piece of the bigger puzzle, not something to bring it into more careful focus.