The NBA Draft Lottery will be critical for the Orlando Magic as they are set to get a top pick and watch for where the Los Angeles Lakers land for the potential 2019 pick.
The Orlando Magic’s 2012 blockbuster deal sending Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers is still reverberating around the franchise.
The team has yet to find a superstar to replace Howard’s presence. And the team has yet to make the Playoffs since Howard’s departure. Nikola Vucevic is the only player remaining directly from that trade. Elfrid Payton was also acquired as part of that deal, albeit indirectly.
The last piece of that trade will play out Tuesday during the NBA Draft Lottery.
The Magic are set to receive the Lakers’ 2019 first round pick if Lakers fall out of the top three in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery. If the Lakers obtain a top three pick, then the Magic will receive two second round picks, one for this year and one for the next.
This has created a dire situation for the team to receive this final compensation from the Howard deal.
The Lakers traded a first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns in the Steve Nash trade that has yet to convey to them (it was later sent to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the Brandon Knight trade).
If the Lakers drop out of the top three — sending the pick to Philadelphia — this will be big news for Magic fans. The Magic will have two first round picks in 2019.
If Magic get the pick, it becomes an extra asset to help the team improve and grow in the short term. They can use it as trade bait to get a solid player in return to try to speed up some of the team’s rebuild or bolster the roster in the future depending on the team’s direction in the near future. As all Magic fans — and probably the front office — are tired of losing seasons, this can speed up the process of rebuilding.
There are many teams in the NBA that are willing to get picks in return because picks hold no salary until the player is drafted. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have been known to be stocking up picks in the past few years. And you never know when the next team is looking to rebuild and ship off a star player.
Orlando Magic
The Magic can also keep the pick and then draft a player, adding to their young core. The Lakers’ future remains uncertain and it is realistic that pick falls in the top five once again. It could end up being a Lottery pick still. That all depends on what happens in the Lakers’ 2019 season.
This also attracts free agents knowing the team has a bright future ahead of them and assets to keep growing. As opposed to a free agent looking at the Brooklyn Nets, who do not have their own first round picks for the next two seasons.
It gives the Magic added flexibility to go in a number of different directions. Whoever is in charge of this team will have multiple avenues to improve thanks to the added benefit of this pick.
The Magic have their young core in place. But none of them have truly shown a consistency to become even an all-star. Adding another first round pick can help the Magic’s chances of adding a star-worthy player.
If the balls do not bounce the Magic’s way, then they will have to do heavy scouting to ensure they get a capable player in the second round with the Lakers picks.
But the Lakers may be a playoff team come 2019 which means the pick may not be a high pick. Whatever the case may be, a first round pick is always more valuable than second round picks. It is often when second round picks do not even make the team’s final roster.
Second round picks often do not pan out as contributors.
Next: Orlando Magic ready no matter where they land in Lottery
The Magic will acquire an important asset to their rebuild tonight in the result of that Lakers pick. While eyes will be watching where the Magic land during tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery, they will also be watching where the Lakers land.