The Orlando Magic are notorious for not using their second-round picks.
So much so that it is an easy joke among fans. And, I hate to break this news to you, it feels very unlikely the team can or should use both the Nos. 32 and 35 picks in this year’s draft. Looking at the roster, the team is chock full of young players and could barely squeeze two more players onto the roster and still add some veteran help.
Surely there are deals in the works or thoughts out there that the Magic will explore in the trade market that could change things very quickly. Everything happening on draft night will be part of a bigger puzzle the team will resolve in the offseason.
But there is no reason the Magic will not start on draft night.
It should be an active draft night for trades as plenty of teams will look to improve this offseason. That should give the Orlando Magic a chance to trade back into the first round.
Orlando is likely to be seeking out a new home for Terrence Ross this offseason and they could be looking to move both of their second-round picks — Nos. 32 and 35 — to move back into the first round.
It feels like a sound strategy. There are surely playoff-level teams who would prefer to have an expiring contract in Ross and his veteran contributions over the uncertainty of a rookie — especially in a draft that is seemingly devoid of shooting — with the chance to grab some high-level players with little guarantee in the second round.
Orlando certainly has the means to be a bit aggressive to chase players they like, assuming that teams can get over how much Ross struggled last year with a rebuilding team.
That will be the key to all of this. Orlando should only move to the first round to make sure the team gets the player it wants.
There will be time to go over some of those options in the very near future. But players like Ousmane Dieng, Trevor Keels, Bryce McGowens, Jalen Williams (Santa Clara), Jalin Williams (Arkansas), Christian Braun, Andrew Nembhard (who reportedly visited Orlando for a workout earlier this week), Khalifa Diop (who also reportedly worked out for the Magic this week), Christian Koloko, Ismael Kamagate are among the players the magic could grab at No. 32 or 35 or could trade up into the first round to make sure they get them.
There are obviously a lot of options for the Magic with those picks — and they might be able to wait to No. 32 to get them if they stand pat. And the team will have to cut through the prospects with the same fine-toothed comb they have been using to separate the players at the top of the draft.
The first thing to do is to find a team that would prefer a player like Ross or to move down to the second round rather than take another first-round pick and try to construct a deal that is beneficial for everyone.
Identifying those targets is the first task. And that is what we will do here:
5 teams to target to move back into the first round
Dallas Mavericks (Pick No. 26)
The easiest targets are to find the teams that are desperate to win now.
These are the teams that are not likely to want to wait on the development from a rookie. And with this not being a particularly deep draft class — especially with coveted shooters — these are the teams that are going to be most desperate to move out of the draft and add some veteran players.
The Dallas Mavericks are certainly a team that should be looking for ways to get better quickly. They need to strike while their iron is hot and strike quickly.
That is what the Mavericks face now. They have gotten a taste of the Western Conference Finals and now they have to keep their perch and try to advance. They cannot let themselves be like the Atlanta Hawks and fall off after this breakthrough.
The challenge is figuring out the right players to surround Luka Doncic with.
The Mavericks’ initial thought was to build 3-point shooting to surround Doncic. The scorching shooting from Reggie Bullock, Jalen Brunson Davis Bertan and Maxi Kleber helped propel the Mavericks to that surprising playoff run.
The Mavericks could well go down that same path, hoping to keep some shooting around and doubling down on the strategy.
That would make Ross at least an intriguing prospect, especially with the dearth of shooting seemingly available in this draft. Whether that means Dallas would want second-round picks is another question.
So too is the other question of what the Mavericks would give up to match Ross’ salary. They have two options in Dwight Powell and Dorian Finney-Smith — both players we considered as potential targets for Ross at the trade deadline. If the Magic did have conversations with Dallas back at the deadline, it is likely those conversations may pick up again.
Hanging in the background too is the potential that Dallas could be a team that chases after Mo Bamba in free agency. Undoubtedly his mix of rim protection and 3-point shooting would be a benefit to them and the kind of center the team would like to have.
There are obvious drawbacks that Orlando is aware of. And the Mavericks will be well over the cap next year, meaning they will only have the mid-level exception to offer in free agency. A sign and trade would be extremely difficult with Dallas because of the team’s cap situation.
That might make the prospect of having two second-round picks with their non-guaranteed contracts far more beneficial. As would Ross’ expiring contract if the Magic were willing to take on the long-term prospect of Finney-Smith (four years, $55.6-million remaining on his deal).
Taking on a long-term deal like Dorian Finney-Smith — something that a team like the Miami Heat (pick No. 27) will likely be trying to do with Duncan Robinson (five years, $104.2 million owed) in a similar fashion — might be the cost of trying to move up.
If that means the Magic trade up for a player they really want, the Mavericks could get two bites at the apple in the second round and a veteran they can rely on — or flip again — in the short-term.
5 teams to target to move back into the first round
Denver Nuggets (Pick No. 21)
The Denver Nuggets know they will be resetting themselves very soon.
Jamal Murray is due back from injury to start next season. Michael Porter Jr. too should be back after he missed most of the season. The Nuggets had to spend their season completely reinventing themselves with two key players out. They somehow survived.
Denver will be a title contender next year with both of them back — although both will need some allowance to recover from injury.
The Nuggets are a team that should always be thinking to strike when the oven is hot right now. Nikola Jokic is in his MVP window and that is not an opportunity to waste. Denver needs to get back into contention.
And the obvious thing the Nuggets need is more consistent shooting or the threat of that shooting.
Last season, Denver was 16th in the 3-point field goal percentage at 35.3-percent — impressive considering the team had the sixth-best offense in the league at 113.8 points per 100 possessions.
But that weakness was exacerbated in the playoffs. Denver finished shooting 35.7-percent in the playoffs. That was not enough to keep up with the Golden State Warriors in the Denver Nuggets’ first-round series. The Nuggets needed more.
The question is what is that more. Would adding to their depth with Terrence Ross be the right move for them? It would seemingly be a smarter move than relying on the shooters later in this draft — although Denver could probably use the help of a backup big found later in the first round.
Denver cannot afford to give up any players that are part of their rotation right now. And the best the Nuggets could offer for Terrence Ross is likely Will Barton. Barton right now might be the better player. And Ross would not afford the Nuggets any additional cap flexibility other than briefly decreasing their payroll.
There might be some difficulty finding a deal between these two teams based on their needs and what each team is willing to move at the deadline.
But the Nuggets are not a team in need of a rookie — as good as their find of Bones Hyland was last year — and adding some more shooting and scoring to boost their bench is a must for them.
5 teams to target to move back into the first round
Memphis Grizzlies (Pick No. 22 & 29)
The Memphis Grizzlies have been able to build their team into a title contender because of their superb drafting throughout the entire draft.
From top picks like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to mid-first-round selections like Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies have built their roster through smart drafting.
That is how they got to the doorstep of contention and had their breakthrough season.
For sure, Memphis’ biggest thing to overcome in the playoffs was experience. The Grizzlies dealt with some injuries and found their regular lineup could get played off the court. Matchups are everything in the playoffs.
So where do the Grizzlies go from here?
Investing again in young players certainly does make sense because Memphis has been so good at that. But the Grizzlies also could be a team that is looking to do a lot more. They should be aggressive chasing players who will make their team better.
Undoubtedly, the biggest trade chip they have is Steven Adams and his expiring contract worth $17.9 million. Adams struggled to find playing time in the postseason — and a bout with COVID during the playoffs did not help — and his fall off is pretty well noted at this point.
The Magic may be one of the few teams who can and may be willing to take on a veteran of that caliber. Memphis may hold onto that asset to work on something bigger in the end.
But the framework is there to make something happen if the Grizzlies would prefer some veteran help over draft picks. Certainly not two picks.
Of course, teams with two first-round picks are just as likely to try to package them together to move up. And they might find takers who would prefer to drop down a few spots and get two picks. The Grizzlies will be able to field offers in both directions in this draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies, like the Denver Nuggets, were a mediocre 3-point shooting team despite having one of the best offenses in the league.
The Grizzlies have an attitude and a swagger about them. They like their length too. And that may not make Terrence Ross such a great fit with them, unless they just want a heater off the bench which may be something they need.
There is at least a framework to get started. But again, it will require the magic being willing to take on some salary.
And it is also abundantly clear the Magic want the same thing that every team wants — more shooting. And there just is not a lot of that. And even the Grizzlies need the same thing as the Magic — versatile backup big men, of which there is plenty in the late first and early second round.
5 teams to target to move back into the first round
Atlanta Hawks (Pick No. 16)
The Atlanta Hawks are in the same situation as the Dallas Mavericks. They know they are capable of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and they can put everything together and play at a high level — especially on offense.
But they also saw last year how things could stall out. The Hawks suffered a ton of injuries and some of their veteran players seemed to start declining in a meaningful way.
Atlanta seems like it will be one of the most active teams in this offseason as they look to improve. They know they have a superstar in Trae Young and they cannot have another season of stagnation or disappointment like this last one. Their window is open and they know they can be good enough to make noise.
The question then is what would they do with this pick?
It seems like the Hawks would be a team ripe to make a trade. They have had some solid picks — De’Andre Hunter and Kevin Huerter come to mind — and some big misses — hello Cam Reddish. But they need to come away from the draft with someone who will contribute to the team and help push them forward.
Atlanta is now well over the cap and so the trade market is their best bet to make changes to the roster. As good as some young talented players might be to add to the roster, they like many of these playoff teams do not have time to wait on development.
The Hawks may well be thinking bigger than someone like Terrence Ross — or they might insist on trying to pry Chuma Okeke from a team like Orlando, although his salary is fairly negligible on his rookie contract — but that remains an option.
Atlanta should be looking to cut some payroll with Danilo Gallinari on an expiring $21.5 million deal, Clint Capela at three years left starting at $19.7 million this season (Capela seems like the biggest chip the Hawks may shop around, possibly even for someone like Rudy Gobert to try to bolster their lagging defense) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (two years at $18 million per season).
Danilo Gallinari especially seemed to age pretty quickly this year and he struggled to help carry the Hawks when John Collins sat out for a good chunk of the year.
Atlanta used Bogdanovic largely off the bench in a similar role that Orlando used Ross. He came off the bench to give the second unit some scoring punch. The Hawks do not mind adding more shooting and scoring. That is a big part of their strategy.
But Atlanta seems ripe to move this pick one way or another. Expect the Hawks to field plenty of calls.
5 teams to target to move back into the first round
Minnesota Timberwolves (Pick No. 19)
The Minnesota Timberwolves made their breakthrough last season.
As much as some fans made fun of the Timberwolves and their celebration of reaching the playoffs as a 7-seed, it was a big moment for the franchise. The Timberwolves have not experienced a lot of success. And what they went through in 2022 did not seem like a fluke. It seemed like the beginning of something.
With new ownership in place, Minnesota has already shown its aggressiveness this offseason.
Hiring Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly away from the perennial Western Conference contenders to be the Minnesota Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations was a bold move. It shows a seriousness to build the Timberwolves’ organization in a meaningful way.
It is not lost on anyone in Orlando that Tim Connelly’s first big hire to his staff was Orlando Magic Vice President of Basketball Operations Matt Lloyd. They are not afraid to go after what they want and build connections throughout the league.
That is another reason why it seems like Minnesota will be a team hunting for something more this season. The Timberwolves like their core with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns together. They will be looking to get a lot better.
Already, people are surmising the team may shop D’Angelo Russell — with his expiring deal worth $31.4 million. That is the biggest asset Minnesota has to shop around with how top-heavy their balance sheet is. Malik Beasley could be another player they look to move, but quickly Minnesota starts running out of shooting.
Their goal should be to climb the playoff ladder.
Dealing with Orlando could be a secondary move then. Terrence Ross would give Minnesota another big-time scorer — someone who has torched the team in the past — and some pop off the bench. That would help the defensive-minded Wolves second unit a ton.
Of course, that is not the kind of needle-moving move Minnesota needs. The Timberwolves may look to be more aggressive with what they acquire with this pick in the draft.
But they certainly want a veteran who will help them come playoff time. And the Magic certainly have someone to offer on that front and would certainly be able to use a player like Beasley on their roster.