Orlando Magic Daily
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5 biggest snubs off the NBA2K18 All-Time Orlando Magic team

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Rashard Lewis #9 and Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic high five during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Rashard Lewis #9 and Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic high five during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors
ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 31: Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic attempts a shot during a game against the Golden State Warriors on December 31, 2013 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Victor Oladipo (2014-16)

Victor Oladipo was the best option with the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft in a draft full of bad options. It is not his fault he became the highest overall selection the Magic would take and quickly the centerpiece to the Magic’s rebuild. He was probably never meant to be that star.

But, every year it seemed like the Magic were waiting for him to take that star leap. He improved in each of his three years with Orlando but was never quite what the team needed. In his final year in Orlando, his inconsistency hurt him and had him moving in and out of the lineup. Yet, the Magic still needed his ability to get into the paint and cause the defense to collapse.

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Oladipo is a flawed player. The Magic’s development plan for Oladipo was flawed too — from starting him at point guard as a rookie to pairing him with another non-shooter in Elfrid Payton in the backcourt. And ultimately, Oladipo’s time in Orlando was a disappointment. The regret in trading him for Serge Ibaka is more about how Ibaka did not work out more than about whether Victor Oladipo was on the precipice of taking the next step.

In three seasons with the Magic, Oladipo averaged 15.9 points per game and shot a 47.4 percent effective field goal percentage. Maybe Orlando needed a little bit of patience to let him grow further. He showed signs of being able to take that big leap into stardom. That was all the Magic ever hoped for.

It just never happened. And then Orlando ran out of patience, cashing in that chip to give Serge Ibaka his chance for a bigger role. It did not work out.

Oladipo is still figuring things out though. He averaged 15.9 points per game in his lone year with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Playing more off the ball next to Russell Westbrook, he shot the ball a bit better. But Oladipo never may have been that star.

It is hard to see him being on the Magic’s All-Time team. But his strong scoring average suggests he deserves some consideration. And, perhaps unfortunately, he will help define this era of Magic basketball.