Orlando Magic Daily
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Early 2016 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview

By Brett David Roberts

Feb 27, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) moves through Florida Gators defenders in the second half of their game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) moves through Florida Gators defenders in the second half of their game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ben Simmons, LSU Tigers, Florida Gators
Feb 27, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) moves through Florida Gators defenders in the second half of their game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Though the Orlando Magic are not yet a definitive lottery team, the Magic can find major solutions to a number of its glaring problems in the 2016 NBA draft.

The Orlando Magic are sitting four games out of the final Playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, still giving them an outside shot at making the NBA Playoffs and avoiding a fourth straight year in the NBA Lottery.

March is the month many NBA fans begin turning their focus to the Draft ahead and regardless of whether the Magic are in the Lottery or playing on past mid-April, every team has to have some focus on which players to add during the NBA Draft. As such, it seems appropriate to begin to preview some of the talent the Magic could land in the 2016 NBA Draft.

There are likely two franchise players in this draft, but Orlando may not be in the running for either — for the first time in four years. Even if the Magic select late in the Lottery, there are a number of talents which could drastically improve the team.

In richer drafts, often the guys selected at the end of the lottery become crucial impact players in their career as role players rather than stars. One need look no further than the fact Paul Pierce (selected 10th overall in 1998) and Andre Iguodala (selected ninth overall in 2004) were both such players, the case that the Magic can snag a major talent is clearly there.

Entering Monday’s games, Orlando is slated to have the 11th best Lottery odds.

That is not to say the Magic will definitely get a starting-level player through the draft this year or even whether the team will keep its pick. It is less likely the team smashes a home run drafting late in the lottery.

But general manager Rob Hennigan has proven one thing definitively: he is a good drafter and talent scout.

The Magic got Elfrid Payton essentially with the No. 12 pick and some change, so that too is proof major talents can be had in the late lottery. While Payton’s career as a star still hangs in the balance, it is clear he was one worth taking a risk on.

Then, there is also the argument the Magic deal this pick. That may prove frustrating to fans who salivate at the idea of a great rookie talent, but the point in the rebuild may have been crossed — the point at which Hennigan begins to think “win now” and adding a rookie that needs development does not serve that purpose.

Even if the Magic do ultimately deal this pick, it is still a good exercise to see what the team would or would not be passing on. There are lots of opportunities come draft time.

Given that the team is still young, if a great player were obtained to blend into the machine, it would still be worth taking another prospect.

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