Everything you need to know about the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery
What about this Lakers pick?
The NBA Draft Lottery for the Magic also has some added intrigue because of a deal made with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012.
As part of the Dwight Howard trade, the Lakers sent a future first round pick to the Orlando Magic. The problem was because of the Stepien Rule in the NBA, the Lakers cannot convey their pick in consecutive years. Each team essentially has to hold a first round pick once every two drafts.
The Lakers earlier that summer had traded a first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns. Through a trade, the Suns sent that pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. It is top-three protected so the 76ers get the Lakers’ pick this year if the Lakers fall out of the top three.
This is what is important. If the Lakers land in the top three, that pick goes to the Sixers next year (unprotected). Which means the Lakers would not have a pick in 2018 and could not send a pick out in 2019.
The way the Howard deal was structured the pick sent to the Magic had increasingly loosened levels of protection on it. This year, for instance, it would have been top-three protected if it were conveyed. But in 2019, all the protections are completely removed. If the Magic do not receive that pick by 2019, the deal says the pick would convert to a 2017 and a 2018 second round pick.
This is a big turn, obviously.
Some of that may be confusing. So to break it down simply: the Magic need the Lakers to fall out of the top three and convey that pick to the 76ers this year to receive the Lakers’ 2019 first round pick in 2019. If the Lakers stay in the top three the Magic get two second round picks from the Lakers, including this year’s 33rd overall pick.
When the Draft Lottery starts, the Magic are cheering for the Lakers to fall out of the top three in this Draft.