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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 33: It’s delicate

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic rebounds the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic rebounds the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Mohamed Bamba, Marvin Bagley, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Collin Sexton, Trae Young
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Collin Sexton, Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Mohamed Bamba pose for a photo before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

All those questions about Mohamed Bamba will certainly raise the bigger question of whether Jeff Weltman and the Orlando Magic made the right pick, to begin with. Do they regret taking Bamba over someone else?

My answer is no.

The first reason is that they knew Bamba was a project. He was not going to come in and change the team immediately or unseat Nikola Vucevic. Perhaps they thought he might be further along, but the plan was always to have him understudy a year and then figure out what they needed to do next year.

Again, maybe how far behind Bamba feels right now along with Vucevic’s emergence as an All-Star quality player has changed some of that equation.

But players are not drafted for what they can do in their rookie year. They are drafted for what they will do five years from now (when they sign that first big contract). To be regretful of a pick after just one year is a little impatient. Unless they look completely useless on the floor.

Bamba has had his struggles. But he has held his own on the court and made several impact plays. Bamba will have a role in the NBA moving forward.

I do not think there is any regret about taking Bamba. At one point, Bamba was a favorite to go with the first overall pick — or among the top picks. Him falling to sixth was a strong pick for the Magic at that spot.

I think their hesitance to try to trade up to get Luka Doncic was not just about the big asking price but also the fact they felt comfortable taking a player like Bamba.

Now, whether the Magic should have mortgaged their entire future to get Doncic and beat the Dallas Mavericks’ offer, that is a debate fans can have forever. I do not think the Magic were willing to beat Dallas’ offer.

But who else would the Magic have taken at sixth?

Wendell Carter (No. 7) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11) might be the best fits the Magic passed up on. They have both had solid rookie years. But neither have the potential that Bamba has. Orlando needed to swing a bit big with their draft pick.

They went for it and got a player with a ton of potential impact. I remember getting killed on social media for even suggesting the Magic take Carter. Summer League silenced them a bit.

Bamba might be taking a bit longer than expected. But the Magic knew they would need patience with him. I do not think they regret that decision at all.