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Orlando Magic 2023 Offseason Calendar: A lot to get to in important offseason

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner helped the Orlando Magic wake up from their malaise and score a come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner helped the Orlando Magic wake up from their malaise and score a come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Patrick Beverley, Chicago Bulls, Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat
Patrick Beverley nearly brought the Chicago Bulls into the Playoffs. But they landed back in the Lottery. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Calendar

April 14 & April 17: Chicago Bulls’ pick is determined

The Chicago Bulls pulled away to earn the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. They then stunned many with a win over the Toronto Raptors in the first play-in game and nearly took down the Miami Heat on the road. The Bulls ran out of steam as the Heat’s clutch play became too much.

A win in Friday’s game against the Miami Heat would have taken the Chicago Bulls out of the Lottery and guaranteed the Orlando Magic the 15th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft to complete the Nikola Vucevic trade from 2021.

Instead, the Chicago Bulls’ loss and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s loss send the Bulls to the all-important lottery tiebreaker.

Monday, the league office is expected to hold its annual tiebreaker draw to break any draft ties, including the tie for 11th in the Lottery standings between the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The draw is a simple lottery drawing. They place the tied teams’ logo on a lottery ball, place it in the lottery drum and draw a winner. The importance of this random draw is for placement.

If the Bulls were to win this lottery, they would have an 8.5 percent chance of entering the top four (1.8 percent chance of winning the lottery) and pick 11th if they fail to jump in the top four. If they lose this draw, they would have an 8.0 percent chance of entering the top four (1.7 percent chance of winning the entire lottery) and pick 12th if they and Oklahoma City fail to jump into the top four.

The tiebreaker will give the winning team that extra number combination in the hopper. That could be important or be the difference between the Magic getting the Bulls’ pick or not. It would also be important in determining where the Magic will finally end up should that Bulls pick convey (which it is very likely to do).