Orlando Magic Daily
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Everything you need to know about the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery

By Philip Rossman-Reich

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Markelle Futlz, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans
Feb 1, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots a layup against the USC Trojans during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Why is this Lottery such a big deal?

Personally, I was not and am not a believer that this is a transformative Draft. Everyone is comparing this Draft to the vaunted Class of 2003 that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. There are not transcendent stars like those three in this Draft.

But, even a pessimistic like me will not deny there are several very good players in this Draft. And especially for a team like the Magic picking at the top, there are lots of quality players they can select who can contribute quickly and develop into star players.

It is obviously better to land the top pick. The best player is the best player for a reason and every team would rather have all the choices available to them. And Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz is the best player in this Draft. I believe he will become an All-Star in this league. Not someone I throw an entire season for but a strong player.

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But even the players the Magic could select at five or six are solid players. If the Magic got NC State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (whom the team worked out Monday) or Kentucky Wildcats guards De’Aaron Fox or Malik Monk or Kansas Jayhawks forward Josh Jackson or Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum or even Florida State Seminoles forward Jonathan Isaac, they would have a talented player they could grow and build with.

This is the kind of Draft where you horde that top pick and demand a star or established veteran starter if someone wants to trade into your spot.

This is a deep draft with talented players at the top for the team to review and sort through. So no matter the Lottery results, the Magic seem very comfortable with who they could select.

But this is also where the argument against that win on the final night of the season comes into play. If the Magic and 76ers had tied, they would have split the number combinations for the fourth and fifth pick evenly. Instead, the 76ers lost and the Magic won, so the 76ers got the advantage.

We will see if that haunts the team tonight.