Orlando Magic Daily
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Last six sixth overall picks should give Orlando Magic hope for NBA Draft

By S.W. Guest

Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers
Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during the second quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

2012 –- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

Of all the players taken sixth overall in the past six years, Damian Lillard is perhaps the most likely to achieve superstar status.

Taken sixth overall in 2012, he has gone on to have a stellar career thus far with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 22.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in five seasons. On top of that, he has made two All-Star and two All-NBA appearances to date.

Lillard came out of what hindsight has enabled us to realize was actually a pretty deep draft class. Lillard was arguably the third strongest player behind Anthony Davis (taken first overall) and Draymond Green (35th overall).

Playing alongside the likes of veterans LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews, Lillard proved himself NBA-ready off the bat, helping his veteran team to 54 wins in 2014 and 51 wins in 2015. Before Aldridge decided to start a new chapter with the San Antonio Spurs.

Now part of one of the league’s most exciting backcourts (which also features C.J. McCollum), Lillard officially has the keys to the car and an opportunity to prove the teams that opted to go elsewhere with picks two through five in 2012 how wrong they were to do so (the Sacramento Kings are probably regretting picking Thomas Robinson fifth overall nowadays).

He does not quite have the players around him to put the put the Blazers back in contention just yet, but surely it is only a matter of time before he does.