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Orlando Magic will draft sixth in the 2018 NBA Draft

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns and General Manager of the Phoenix Suns, Ryan McDonough pose for a photo after getting the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns and General Manager of the Phoenix Suns, Ryan McDonough pose for a photo after getting the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic did not catch any luck this year in the NBA Draft Lottery. The team fell one spot and will pick sixth in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The Orlando Magic did not get another visit from Lady Luck in the NBA Draft Lottery. For the second straight year, they will pick with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft.

The Orlando Magic fell one spot in the draft as both the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings jumped into the top three. The Phoenix Suns will have the top pick. The sixth pick is where the team was statistically expected to pick, however.

The Hawks’ jump into the top three is of interest to the Magic.

Orlando had an 8.8 percent chance to win the Lottery and a 29.1 percent chance to get into the top three. However, the Orlando Magic’s win over the Washington Wizards in the season’s final game pushed them out of a three-way tie for the third-best odds at winning the Lottery. Instead, the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks split the Lottery odds. Ironically the Mavericks won the tiebreaker for the extra combination.

Regardless of that tanking misstep, Orlando landed where the team could have expected to land when the day began. And with a deep draft with several strong potential players, the Magic should be able to find a player who can contribute to the team and be a potential foundational piece.

While the Magic will miss out on the top picks, it is still unclear how much of the rest of the draft will go.

Forward Marvin Bagley III could go anywhere from third to the Hawks or all the way down to six where the Magic are picking. He does not seem an ideal fit with the team already having Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon‘s restricted free agent rights.

More likely the Magic will be picking between point guards Trae Young and Collin Sexton, center Wendell Carter Jr. and forward Michael Porter Jr. There is also a possibility for center Mohamed Bamba to fall to six.

These are all certainly flawed players. They are not the cream of the crop, so to speak. But they are all players who at most could potentially be star players or quality role players and starters for a long time.

That is the beauty of the Draft. No one ever knows which player will develop like Donovan Mitchell did this year either (pick 11).

With the Draft Lottery done, the Magic will move on to the NBA Draft Combine later this week. There, they will get their first formal introduction to their targets with the sixth pick and at the 35th and 41st picks.

Orlando will certainly do their due diligence with workouts and interviews in the next month. At some point, a new coach will enter the fray to add his perspective and thoughts on the process.

Next: No matter the Lottery, the Orlando Magic are in a good spot

All this leading up to the Draft on June 21.