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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Sixth is a Magic number

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Weltman represents the Orlando Magic 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: President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Weltman represents the Orlando Magic 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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Trae Young, Oklahoma Sooners
NORMAN, OK – MARCH 2: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners shoots against Iowa State during the second half of a NCAA college basketball game at the Lloyd Noble Center on March 2, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

What are your feelings about landing with the sixth pick? Is this a tragedy or can the team still accomplish its goals?

Ryan Doyle (@RDoyle27): I mean, what did everyone expect to happen? The Orlando Magic were slated to pick sixth, and that is where they landed. Secondly, this is a new front office. Jeff Weltman and John Hammond have made one pick and it is hard to bring history into play when both have had nothing to do with Rob Hennigan’s failed rebuild. The sixth pick offers plenty of options. They may not land a top-three prospect. But in terms of star power, Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. will be on the board when Orlando is on the clock. I am not panicking, Weltman and Hammond have done a solid job thus far.

Spencer Henderson (@SpencerRHenders): Fans in Orlando should have no faith in the organization picking at six. This is definitely a tragedy. Only because the Orlando Magic organization have not selected well in the draft since Dwight Howard left. The Magic could have been one of the best teams in the East by now, judging by the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers’ quick ascent. The only difference between the franchises is the Celtics and 76ers have actually taken advantages of their picks. While the Celtics have succeeded by selecting Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. So have the 76ers with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The Magic have failed to capitalize on all five lottery picks.

Philip Rossman-Reich (@philiprr_omd): I am not one to wring my hands over the NBA Draft Lottery results. It certainly is a bad look that one of the teams that the Orlando Magic would have tied with a loss in the final game of the season ended up in the top three. But this is not a total disaster. This is a deep draft with at least five or six potential stars. The Magic will get their crack at one of them. Although the decision may not be great. And even after that group, there are some good players who should play a solid role. Yes, Orlando needs a star player and the Draft is the best place to get it. But you have to make your own luck at some point. And Orlando can still do that at six.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Ricky Scricca (@scricca1): Obviously a better result would have been nice. But this is still a solid position to be in. Trae Young will probably be available as an upside play and potential foundational offensive piece. Wendell Carter Jr., Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mohamed Bamba may be there as well. And there is the option to trade back and get multiple lottery picks (the 12th and 13th). A top-five selection could have been really helpful but I think there are a lot of interesting directions to go at 6.

Jean Racine (@realjeanracine): I am disappointed the Orlando Magic did not get a higher pick than sixth. At the very least, I was expecting the Magic to receive the fifth pick. But this is not a tragedy and the team can still achieve its goals. With the sixth pick, Orlando is in line to draft a potential franchise-changer if Michael Porter and Trae Young are still available. These players have huge upside with Young getting the edge because of his Stephen Curry-like game.

Zach Palmer (@FmrTankCommandr): I think that calling it a tragedy would be a bit of an overreaction, but it definitely sucks. I am not sure what the math is but it is hard for me to believe it was statistically probable the Orlando Magic would end up either staying put or falling in lottery position for six straight seasons. Now, with this bad luck, Orlando is picking sixth and may be out of range of what most would consider a blue-chip prospect. That said, picking sixth will still grant Orlando a solid player. I am interested in trying to evaluate what Orlando’s baseline criteria for drafting is after the pick is made.

Patrick Flynn (@PFlynn33): It is definitely a let down for the Magic not to move up in the lottery six years in a row. While I do think the Magic will be able to find a player who can contribute to a future playoff team, they need more than that. The Magic need a star. Of course, you never know how a player is going to develop the day you draft them, so they hypothetically could still find a future All-Star with the sixth pick. But my confidence in that happening is relatively low. If the Magic stick with the sixth pick and do not find a way to move into the top three it is my opinion they are setting themselves back at least another year, again.