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Orlando Magic 2018 NBA Draft Preview: Where the Orlando Magic might target trades

By Philip Rossman-Reich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic have the sixth pick in the draft. But that is not all they are thinking. There are plenty of intriguing trade opportunities to explore.

The NBA Draft is now a week away. Things are going to start moving quickly as teams finish their last workouts and get their last bits of information before they hunker down for the big day next Thursday. It is a big task ahead of every team.

As many insiders like to say, this is the time when trade discussions really begin to pick up as the Draft order begins to settle itself and teams begin to rally around to make sure they get the players they want. The Draft, after all, is not just merely a time to select new players into the league, it is also the time to begin reshuffling the roster.

And the Orlando Magic certainly needs to do that. After six straight seasons out of the Playoffs and no more than 35 wins in any season since Dwight Howard left, Orlando is looking to change things up. Their core group absolutely needs a shakeup. And most of the players on the roster were from the previous management regime and not Jeff Weltman.

It feels like the sixth overall pick is one of the most important picks in Magic history. And one they have to get right to begin moving ahead in the right direction.

Weltman has said it himself too. This is a draft NBA scouts and executives have looked forward to for a long time. So there will be a lot of movement as teams try to get the players they want.

There are plenty of scenarios where teams will not get the guys they want. This is a draft full of big men at the top in a league that is seeing big men get played off the floor more and more. It would suggest that there are going to be teams looking to move down or move around.

And there are plenty of teams with multiple picks who might be looking to move around.

The Magic are not immune to this. They are reportedly among the teams that are looking to move up in this draft. Of course, the same might be said for 29 other teams too. Everyone wants to put themselves in the best position.

Actually making a deal will be a difficult task.

I have now completed two mock drafts with trades and learned some lessons about how the Magic’s trade strategy might play out. This post will explore the various options that are pretty clear for the Magic.

Of course, things can, do and will change fairly quickly for the Magic as the draft draws closer.