Orlando Magic Daily
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5 questions the Orlando Magic face in the season’s final quarter

By Ruben Badillo

Mar 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Tyler Johnson, Miami heat
Mar 3, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando defeated Miami 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Will the Orlando Magic continue to put an effort to win games?

Everyone knows the team with the worst record has the better odds of getting the first pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Magic are sitting in the 14th spot in the East with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, while only being seven games out of the playoffs.

If the current standings hold throughout the season, the Magic would have an 11.9 percent chance to win the draft lottery.

Fans are certainly focusing on this fact. But head coach Frank Vogel has no intention of tanking the last 19 games.

"“As a coach, you worry about one thing, and that’s getting a group of guys that haven’t won in five years to learn how to win,” Vogel told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. “That’s more important than any one player you can add. But I understand that perspective [about tanking]. That strategy has worked wonderfully for organizations, and it’s failed miserably for organizations. It’s a high-risk type of thing. As a coach, you worry about getting a group guys to learn how to win and play winning basketball. I think with the way the last five years have gone here, that’s the most important thing for our franchise.”"

As Vogel said, the Magic need to learn how to win games first before thinking about getting the best pick in the draft.

The Magic have had a history of putting in little effort in winning games in their past season to get a high lottery pick. But unfortunately, that just has not worked for the Magic. Orlando has had a top-three pick just once in the last four years — and that year they fell from the top spot to select second in arguably the worst draft in recent memory.

Orlando really does not see the benefit in going through this process again. Especially if they want to keep any of the players on this year’s roster for a 2018 Playoff push.

The team will try to keep winning games to help the team learn how to win games. But worst case scenario the Magic could end up getting a top-five pick in this years 2017 NBA draft.