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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 24: One Draft to rule them all

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Aaron Gordon (Arizona) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Aaron Gordon (Arizona) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Donovan Mitchell, Louisville Cardinals, Syracuse Orange
Feb 26, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles against Syracuse Orange guard Frank Howard (1) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

From Flip Do’Urden via Facebook

"Make moves to get 2 top 10 picks, or draft 4 players? I think moving the later 3 picks and a future 1st and going all in with the young guys on the roster now makes the most sense. The team is already so young."

I think OMD’s Patrick Flynn made a solid argument for why the Magic need to get a second Lottery pick earlier this week. Essentially the argument is the team has to reset itself some and the best way to do that is to increase their chances at collecting talent in this Draft.

To be sure, there are all the elements you need to see a team trade up in the Magic this year.

Orlando has multiple high-value picks that teams could be looking to acquire. But, of course, a team trading down means they are not drafting a player they like (or they like someone lower). Thus the conundrum of trading at the Draft.

With this draft, the Magic should be looking to maximize their talent. They have some young veterans they could shop around like Nikola Vucevic and maybe even Terrence Ross that could be moved and get teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons or Denver Nuggets intrigued.

I think they should be targeting teams already loaded with young talent looking for that last piece to take them over the top. Orlando is also in a position where they might be willing to take on a bad salary or reclaim a player who does not fit with one team but could fit with theirs.

There is plenty of opportunities for the Magic to move up.

But I think Orlando does not need to do this either. After about pick 11 or 12, the talent in this Draft drops off pretty significantly. There are a lot of intriguing players, but no one who is a guarantee. The talent as far as value goes, changes dramatically.

I would say if there is a player the Magic want to target and move up to get, they should absolutely do that. They have the assets to do that. But I do not think they should move up just to move up. They should have a player in mind.

I might consider moving up to draft a player like Donovan Mitchell or OG Anunoby or Terrance Ferguson. All three come with their own risks and create some logjams on the current roster. But their talent is undeniable.

But there is value at 25 too. And I actually think the Magic might get more value trading down from 25 to get another second round pick or another couple second round picks.

This is all to say, the Magic have a ton of options on draft night. I expect them to be actively looking for ways to improve the team and get the players they want.