The Orlando Magic still have hopes of making the Playoffs. To do so, they will have to climb over several teams. Did they make up ground on Draft Night?
Everything can change quickly in the NBA. Often, it only takes a day.
Many of these days take place very near to the NBA Draft, and the time period can be a turning point for a franchise, or perhaps at least a sign things are headed in the right direction.
For a rebuilding team like the Orlando Magic, the draft is especially important as a clue to the future, as an opportunity for renewed optimism and as a point to analyze the team’s chances for the upcoming season.
While this task is obviously centered on the team itself, and there is plenty of analysis up now on the site, the Magic do not play in a vacuum. Whether they got better or worse, it is all relative to what else happened in the NBA. And what their rivals are up to.
For this task, a rival can be deemed as any team that stood between the Magic and the final Playoff spot. These are the teams the Magic have to climb past to achieve their ultimate goals.
After all, the team and its fans are all slathering over a long-awaited return to the postseason. So judging from last year, that makes the rivals as follows:
Chicago Bulls
It is fitting this list starts with one of the two biggest names moved on draft day: the Chicago Bulls, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two teams stole the spotlight from the incoming freshmen by sending all-star guard Jimmy Butler out West (or, mid-way, kind of) to reunite with former coach Tom Thibedeau.
In return, the Bulls received currently injured Zach LaVine, upcoming sophomore Kris Dunn, and the No. 7 pick, which turned into Finnish-born Lauri Markkanen. The consensus is they got fleeced in his deal as they looked to move on from their beleaguered superstar.
While the uber-athletic LaVine surprised many last season with his improved 3-pointer and growing handle, he will likely miss half the season while recovering from his ACL tear. Even at top strength, LaVine is no replacement for Butler. Dunn will be a terrific defender, but has yet to show promise in any other area, and who knows what they can prise from their rookie big man.
Dwyane Wade seems unsure if he will pick up his player option and Rajon Rondo could get bought out after he again clashed with his coaches. If one or even both leave, the Bulls’ current depth chart does not make for happy reading. At all.
How much the Magic gained on them might be a question, but the idea of Chicago taking a step back is not. They are almost definitely out of the playoffs next season, and someone has to fill that void.
Have the Magic gained on them? YES.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat were stuck with one of the later picks of the lottery with the 14th pick. They surprised some by selecting Kentucky Wildcats center Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo can definitely be listed as an “upside” pick. While his body is most definitely NBA-ready, his overall game might not be.
The Heat had some space at the 4, and Adebayo will likely be stashed away for some garbage-time growing, living on a steady diet of putback dunks and showing off an ability to guard three positions.
In terms of the upcoming season, the pick does not really move the needle for the Heat. They are much more focused on riding the momentum of their terrific run in the second half of last season. They were never fully healthy, yet still amazed coaches and players alike with their turnaround.
With the NBA granting Chris Bosh‘s medical waiver, the Heat suddenly have a significant amount of cap room to use this offseason. That could make them players for someone like Blake Griffin or Paul Millsap if that is the direction the Heat want to go. They will have significant cap space to work with to improve this summer.
They have to be current favorites to replace the Bulls in the playoffs.
Have the Magic gained on them? NO
Detroit Pistons
Though the Detroit Pistons were not going to splash headlines with the number 12 pick. But many are arguing they quietly pulled off one of the better picks of the late lottery stage.
Luke Kennard of the Duke Blue Devils is one of the best shooters coming up from the college game, and 3-point shooters can always find a place in a Stan Van Gundy offense. Yes, he will be outmatched by almost everyone else at his position in terms of athleticism. But it is not for lack of effort. Kennard is reputed as a smart mover on the court and has some whispers of playmaking ability to boot.
Kennard will likely be a bench player his rookie season, despite his ACC Tournament MVP. But it is possible he can find a place knocking down jumpers from Andre Drummond double-teams (if he can indeed command them) and will certainly fill one of the Pistons’ biggest needs. It goes double if the Pistons do not match offers for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (whom the Pistons are likely willing to give a max contract too in restricted free agency).
Having said that, Kennard’s drafting likely does not move the needle enough to distract from their unfortunate downturn last season.
Have the Magic passed them? Yes, probably. Kennard is not a big enough deal to give a real indication of where the Pistons are at. A Stan Van Gundy team is always going to have potential, but so far they have not done anything to show they can improve.
Have the Magic gained on them? MAYBE
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are being lauded as making the steal of the draft.
Malik Monk, the combo guard from Kentucky, was predicted by some to be a top-five prospect and someone the Magic might target. So when he fell through the top 10, the Hornets did not waste time in taking advantage of the gift.
Monk is a talented scorer, evidenced by his topping 30 points four times last season, and perhaps the best shooter from the NBA Draft. Not only were the Hornets able to take the most talented player available, but they fit a genuine need. It is pretty rare to be able to hit both marks.
The Hornets have also been busy in the market, acquiring Dwight Howard for essentially nothing. There is a large discussion about what Howard can bring to a NBA team nowadays, but his defense alone will be a strong addition to the Hornets. Monk should help improve their shoddy bench play.
Have the Magic passed them? No, definitely not. The Hornets (so far) have had a good off-season, and are on the up.
Have the Magic gained on them? NO
New York Knicks
Well, where to begin.
The draft is probably the best thing to consider first. The New York Knicks had three picks overall but just one in the first round at No. 8 where they selected guard Frank Ntilikina.
Ntilikina is one of the rare picks in the draft almost guaranteed to start (although that is heavily related to the Knicks having few other options), so it is already a tough ask for an 18-year-old guard debuting in New York City. And at point guard no less.
Here is hoping he knows the triangle.
Unfortunately for hungry Knicks fans, most critics class Ntilikina as a “safe” or “future” pick. Not exactly what they need right now.
But that is not what made news for much of draft night.
Onto the big elephant/unicorn in the room.
The Knicks blatantly dangled promising forward Kristaps Porzingis in the lead up to the draft. It has become abundantly clear the lone bright spark for the Knicks is now, like his co-star Carmelo Anthony, very disgruntled with the franchise.
No one expected the Knicks to have an amazing offseason, it is the Knicks after all. But to see them push out Porzingis is the surprise of the summer.
Have the Magic passed them? ABSOLUTELY
Philadelphia 76ers
The process strikes again.
The Philadelphia 76ers are always big players in the draft. That is what you get for racking up all those losses. And this year was no different.
Trading up to the No. 1 spot (because last year was not enough) the Sixers got the surest thing in the draft while filling their biggest need.
Markelle Fultz has a lot of hype for a reason. He can score from anywhere on the floor, create for others and has a passing game that will compliment the team perfectly.
It is all coming together for the Sixers. They have a possible MVP-type player in the middle (injury-allowing) in Joel Embiid, two wings in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz who, if they are worth half the hype, are going to be an amazing backcourt to watch and a diamond in the rough in Dario Saric, who seems like the perfectly complementary fourth option.
The key for the Sixers, and the Magic by extension, is Joel Embiid’s visits to the team doctor. When on the floor, he is an amazing player. Off of it, well he is still amazing, but it does not matter as much if he is not playing.
If it does all work out…it’ll be fun to watch.
If the injuries strike, then sure the Magic might stay ahead of them. But as it looks right now, Philadelphia is poised to leap Orlando next year.
Have the Magic held them off? NO
It is only the beginning of the offseason. There is still free agency, summer league and preseason to go.
And the above post only considers those teams who also missed out on the playoffs last year. There will be playoff teams dropping out of the race, the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers most likely, the Magic can look to catch too.
Because it is pretty well-known, the Magic faithful can be happy with as many draft picks as they like, but they will eventually want to leave the ‘rebuild’ shadow behind them.
Next: 2017 Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Point Guards
Slowly they will have to climb the ranks ahead of them.