Official 2013 NBA Draft Thread

Schmitz's Take: Magic's draft pick for sale, teams calling

For sale: The Orlando Magic’s No. 2 draft pick.

The Magic are strongly considering moving down in the draft this month, according to a source familiar with their plans.

I'm told that "quite a few teams" have called the Magic about the availability of their lottery pick and what it might take to acquire it.

The Magic are listening.

Like many lottery teams, Orlando likely is not enamored with the projected top picks in this draft – Ben McLemore, Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo – and/or suspect that Cleveland might take its favorite player with the No. 1 pick.

Even the Cavs have made it known that they, too, would be willing to shop their pick, likely for a veteran.

It’s smart for the Magic to also offer their pick for the right return, considering they already have a batch of young players. However, it’s not often a team trades the No. 2 pick and there’s more of a likelihood that Orlando keeps it.

But if the Magic, in their player evaluations, don’t see much difference between the No. 2 and No. 8 selections, they could be interested in trading down and picking up another pick or a future pick.

For example, if the Magic like Oladipo, they might think they can grab him at No. 4, 5 or 6, feeling No. 2 is too high to take the defensive-minded guard out of Indiana. They could be picking a player at No. 2 for another team and swap selections.

Orlando is in the market for a young point guard – and might feel it can select Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum or Michael Carter-Williams later.

Throwing a wrench in this draft is the health of Noel, the former Kentucky center.

He likely would go No. 1 given he is an athletic, shot-blocking big. But Noel sustained a significant knee injury (torn ACL) last season and it has worried some teams, opening the door for McLemore, the former Kansas shooting guard, to become top pick.

The Magic’s willingness to shop their pick could come down to this: They rate McLemore as the best player and are also afraid of gambling on Noel’s knee. So if the Cavs take McLemore, the Magic are more open to dealing the pick.

Which teams might be calling the Magic looking to acquire the selection?

It all depends on whether a club has fallen in love with a certain player or has targeted a player who fits a need.

Washington (No.3), Charlotte (No. 4) and Phoenix (No. 5) all need a dynamic big man and might want to acquire Noel.
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1. Which player owns the best overall offensive repertoire?

Amin Elhassan (former NBA scout): Kelly Olynyk. This name might come as a surprise to East Coasters who didn't get a chance to watch Gonzaga often, but Olynyk has the most refined (and well-rounded) offensive game of any of this year's class, possessing the ability to score efficiently with his back to the basket as well as pop for the midrange jumper.
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Flu Game 
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I think the Orlando Magic can compete in the 8-10 seed range in the East if they hit big on their lottery pick this year. An instant offense guy like Trey.
 
You're crazy. The Magic were still getting blown out by double digits at the end of the year when Vucevic and Tobias Harris were looking like damn Shaq and Kobe. I like him, Harkless, Afflalo, Tobias Harris, Nicholson and Big Baby...but whoever they draft this year or get through free agency or a trade would have to be a hell of an addition for them to make the playoffs next year.

The Sixers were really in disarray this past year cause they were relying on Bynum being their franchise go-to guy and he ended up not playing a game. Most the guys on that team have a lot of playoff experience and I think they'll be back in it next year depending on what they do with Bynum and the rest of the crew around Jrue. Raptors, Cavs and Wizards should be a lot better next year too. The Bobcats, Magic, Pistons and Bucks might be gunning for that 2014 #1 spot.
 
Look at the teams you cropped together on the list. Orlando is far superior to Charlotte and Detroit in overall talent. Even Milwaukee, if they lose Monta and/or Jennings.

I should clarify, I meant a rookie that has Damian Lillard-type immediate impact for Orlando.

Vucevic is a nightly double-double. Harris, Harkless, Nicholson will only improve with age. Big Baby and Afflalo provide veteran leadership and strong team-minded defense.
 
I like them over Cleveland slightly and even Philly depending what we do with Drew. Toronto as well, but they're in the right direction with Ujiri.
 
I really like their young talent as well, I'm just pointing out that they were still getting blown out even with Vucevic and Tobias Harris putting up ridiculous numbers. But Big Baby, Nelson and Afflalo weren't even playing at the end of the year so who knows. If they're trading Jameer I'd love Burke on that team.
 
You guys are probably right. I may be getting ahead of myself.

I'm just surprised/impressed Orlando's FO came out of post-D-12 unscathed.
 
Magic have a good young core, depending on what they do in this draft/2014 draft/FA they could become a playoff team

I like Burke for them, shooter who will only get better, nice handle, great in the pick and roll and good vision.
 
They came out of it better than anybody. That GM is going to get a raise soon for getting Vucevic, Harkless and Afflalo for a guy that wasn't gonna sign back with them and trading a spot up shooter for Tobias Harris who has a chance to be a really good all around player.
 
My point also being there's not much of a talent discrepancy between the bottom of the East.

Charlotte, Toronto, Philly, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Orlando are pretty much lumped together. It doesn't take a lot to jump a couple places in the standings. I said 8-10 seed, meaning fringe playoff team.

I like the idea of Orlando trading down and taking CJ. #2 pick has value for teams targeting Porter or McLemore.
 
Sure, it doesn't take a lot to make the 8th seed in the east, but you're asking the magic to make a 20 game improvement to even contend for that spot. Those games Tobias and Vucevic were filling up the stat sheet weren't even close games half of the time.

And even if whoever they draft is Damian Lillard good, the magic don't have a player better than Aldridge or even Batum.
 
Vucevic is developing into one of the best young bigs in the L. Guaranteed double-double. He's not LMA, but they're different players.

I like Batum, but he has to take the next step. Right now, he's jack of all trades, master of nothing.

Replacing Jameer with Trey or CJ could swing a couple more wins. Also another addition through FA would help.
 
It would be a HELL of an improvement if Orlando was close to the playoffs. They won't find that kind of player in this draft and it's not in their best interest to be winning anyway. I like their young guys but people are expecting them to all improve in one year and not accounting for any injuries.
 
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Tobias, Vucevic, Harkless, etc are not franchise guys. They still have no one to build their franchise around. Vucevic is a talented young guy, but he's not good enough to lead a squad to the playoffs by himself, and whatever they get at #2 won't be enough to catapult them over those other teams. 2014 draft will be huge for them if they're in the running for a Wiggins, Randle, Smart, Harrison.
 
has anyone ever gone to the draft? Im gonna go this year with 3 of my friends and we kinda want to sit in the lower bowl. i can only imagine ticket prices will go down as the draft gets closer. regardless they arent expensive but was just wondering the kind of market they draw.
 
DaComeUP said:
Tobias, Vucevic, Harkless, etc are not franchise guys. They still have no one to build their franchise around. Vucevic is a talented young guy, but he's not good enough to lead a squad to the playoffs by himself, and whatever they get at #2 won't be enough to catapult them over those other teams. 2014 draft will be huge for them if they're in the running for a Wiggins, Randle, Smart, Harrison.
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The squad gonna suck again this year to get Wiggins or Smart :pimp:
 
Who is to say that Tobias Harris at 20 years old can't become a star? I'm not saying he's going to lead a team to a championship but NT loves making judgement on guys before they even come close to their prime. No one knows where he will be exactly in five years, so lets just not make blanket statements. Players always develop/regress at different rates so pegging them as a certain status at 20 years old is just foolish.
 
A star and a franchise player are two different things, no? Franchise players are pretty easily identifiable IMO. 
 
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