NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: NBA Prospect Zion Williamson is introduced before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
3 overreactions to the Orlando Magic getting the first-overall pick: 1. It could have been a better year
Alright, so it is not going to be all optimistic here. We had to draw you in somehow to keep reading. Obviously, there are no problems in getting the first overall pick, but the only potential downside is that this is not a can’t-miss year like we have seen before. There is no Zion Williamson or Anthony Davis, or even Karl-Anthony Towns, waiting for them on draft night.
Between Banchero, Holmgren, and Smith, there is still some conversation as to who is the best player and the right one to take. It might seem like all are can’t-miss talents, and that’s because, on the surface, they are. But remember, for every Kevin Durant being selected second overall, a Greg Oden was taken first.
So the Magic won’t have their decision made for them like the Oklahoma City Thunder (selecting second) and Houston Rockets (third) will. There is a degree of pressure to get this right and not just take the best available player when the time comes.
On the other hand, though, the Magic have always seemed to pick one spot outside the top-tier talents in the last decade. Whether it was Jonathan Isaac, Mohamed Bamba, or Mario Hezonja, they all came just after superstars like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Trae Young. They even missed out on potential stars like Lonzo Ball and Evan Mobley.
So having their destiny in their own hands is a new feeling to them and one that they are going to enjoy. The Magic picked second in 2013 and took Victor Oladipo that year. That was a strange draft, and the organization was bad at the wrong time, as it was not a good year to have a top-three pick.
The concerns about this happening are not as strong in 2022. There might be no can’t-miss player at one, but the overall top group of players is just stronger than in 2013. The early feeling is that Holmgren is going to be the guy for them. His mix of unique skillset and size, despite the wiry frame, adds up to the kind of player that the Magic front office seems to always gravitate towards.
Oklahoma City</a> Thunder (selecting second) and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/houston-rockets/">Houston Rockets (third) will. There is a degree of pressure to get this right and not just take the best available player when the time comes.</p>
<p>On the other hand, though, the Magic have always seemed to pick one spot outside the top-tier talents in the last decade. Whether it was Jonathan Isaac, Mohamed Bamba, or Mario Hezonja, they all came just after superstars like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Trae Young. They even missed out on potential stars like Lonzo Ball and Evan Mobley.</p>
<p>So having their destiny in their own hands is a new feeling to them and one that they are going to enjoy. The Magic picked second in 2013 and took Victor Oladipo that year. That was a strange draft, and the organization was bad at the wrong time, as it was not a good year to have a top-three pick.</p>
<p>The concerns about this happening are not as strong in 2022. There might be no can’t-miss player at one, but the overall top group of players is just stronger than in 2013. The early feeling is that <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://www.theringer.com/2022/5/17/23112558/orlando-magic-no-1-pick-nba-draft-chet-holmgren-jabari-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Holmgren is going to be the guy for them</a>. His mix of unique skillset and size, despite the wiry frame, adds up to the kind of player that the Magic front office seems to always gravitate towards.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Overreaction #2 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-375652 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1178413697.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1178413697.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1178413697-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 26: Jonathan Isaac #1, Terrence Ross, and Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic walk back to the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 26, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 overreactions to the Orlando Magic getting the first-overall pick: 2. Big trades are coming</h2>
<p>No matter who the Magic pick, this will <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/20/orlando-magic-3-takeaways/" rel="">put in motion the beginning of the end</a> for a number of players on the team. The franchise had a first rebuild that was centered around Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba, and that did not get off the ground. Instead, Bamba has never really kicked on, and Isaac hasn’t played in two full seasons.</p>
<p>The front office then did a reboot on this, selecting Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner last year to pair with Cole Anthony from the year before and Wendell Carter Jr. from the trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/chicago-bulls/">Chicago Bulls. If we assume they are going to take Holmgren for now, just imagine him next to that collection of young talent.</p>
<p>Markelle Fultz may have been part of the first rebuild, but he has a future in Orlando. He is too talented and moves the needle too much when on the court to give up on. The Magic have a choice to make on whether or not to pay Bamba, but they shouldn’t. Instead, look for them to move on form him and see if they can get anything at all for Isaac.</p>
<p>His trade value is on the floor right now, but he’s intriguing enough for another franchise to at least enquire about him. As great a locker room presence as Terrence Ross is, he should be moved for either a couple of picks or another player on a similar timeline to this group in order to accelerate their rebuild.</p>
<p>RJ Hampton has a lot of redeemable qualities and is still only 21. But there are going to be tough decisions made, and players squeezed out of the rotation. Right now, it looks like Hampton could be that fall guy if the backcourt rotation revolves around Fultz and Suggs. Not everybody can get paid and get the role they want, and with a first overall pick coming, changes will be made.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Overreaction #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-445192" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1382582540.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1382582540.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1382582540-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 02: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 and Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic celebrate against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Amway Center on March 02, 2022 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 overreactions to the Orlando Magic getting the first-overall pick: 1. Contention within the next five years</h2>
<p>No, this is not a joke. The Magic now has a young core that lost many games last year, but they picked up valuable experience. In theory, they are going to draft a player this summer that will have All-NBA potential if all goes well. They already have a center in Carter Jr. who has drawn comparisons to Al Horford, and Wagner looked like their best rookie in years last season.</p>
<p>Anthony is a fan favorite, Fultz will get better, and Suggs can only go up from what was a pretty disappointing first season for him. One that was made even worse by the fact Scottie Barnes, whom the Magic could have taken and fans were glad they did not in favor of Suggs, ended up winning Rookie of the Year with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/toronto-raptors/">Toronto Raptors.</p>
<p>Head coach Jamahl Mosley is in it for the long haul, and the organization has cap flexibility if and when a mid-tier star decides they want to try something new with an up-and-coming team. Perhaps even a disgruntled star in another small market like Donovan Mitchell. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/exit-survey-utah-jazz/" rel="">You never know</a>.</p>
<p>There are more draft picks to come, and the Magic are being run by a smart front office. Armed with a first overall pick, there are no clouds in their immediate future. Time is on their side to get this right, and they have a fanbase that has suffered so much that they will buy into whatever version of this team that is formed. It already looks more promising than what came before it.</p>
<p>So yes, contention in the next five years should be the goal. Getting back to the playoffs in two years would be a great start before the inevitable trials, tribulations, and setbacks that come with being a young team in the postseason. It wasn’t looking too bad for the Magic, but after this news, the acceleration towards a brighter future is well underway.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Official selections for the 2022 All-NBA Playoff teams" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/19/all-nba-playoff-teams/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/20/orlando-magic-overreactions-first-pick/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/19/all-nba-playoff-teams/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Official selections for the 2022 All-NBA Playoff teams </a> </div>
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