Orlando Magic (21-51)
Picks: 5, 8, 33
| Draft Prospects | Odds to Go No. 5 (via BetMGM) |
| Scottie Barnes | -135 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +110 |
| Jalen Suggs | +400 |
The Orlando Magic looked long and hard in the mirror before making the heavy decision to pivot and start the process of rebuilding rather than continuing to chase playoff appearances.
Orlando's shocking and bold midseason trade of franchise star Nikola Vucevic landed them a highly-regarded big man prospect Wendell Carter Jr., the expiring contract of 3-and-D wing Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks from Chicago, with one of those picks conveying in the 2021 NBA Draft (eighth overall pick).
The Magic were one of the worst offensive teams in the league this year and their defensive efficiency — which was their identity for most of the past several seasons — also took a precarious tumble down the rankings. Not everything has been gloomy for Orlando's NBA outlook, though, as the Magic recently hired their new head coach, well-respected former Dallas Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley.
Orlando is in a decent spot moving forward, though player development will obviously decide so much of their fate.
With Mosley tabbed as the new head coach and the franchise possessing two top-10 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft (Nos. 5 and 8), things are setting up for the Magic to have one of the more intriguing young rosters in the league next season. But because Orlando has so many weaknesses, predicting what players they will look at is a tall task.
NBA Draft Needs
- Scoring/Shot Creators: Orlando was 29th in the league in offensive rating per NBA.com. Their inability to produce points against even the worst defenses truly limits the potential of an exciting young core. Drafting players who can simply get buckets should be at the top of their list.
- Pass-First Guards: The Magic were in the bottom-10 teams in the league in assist rate. Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz are both extremely talented passers with score-first mentalities. Acquiring a more traditional pass-first guard who could play with those two could bridge the gap for key Orlando lineups.
