The Orlando Magic will have the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. After finishing the season with the worst record in the league at 20-62, the Magic had a 25 percent chance of coming home with the first pick on June 27. Instead, they will have just one team ahead of them come draft night.
Orlando Magic awarded No. 2 pick in 2013 NBA Draft lottery
The team with the best chance to win the top pick came up short, landing the second pick instead.
USA TODAY Sports
The Cavaliers, Magic and Wizards found themselves as the top three candidates left for the No. 1 overall pick. And after Washington received the third selection, it was down to just Orlando and Cleveland. Once it was revealed Orlando had the second pick, Magic fans everywhere came to terms with possibly missing out on Nerlens Noel.
Here is the full lottery order:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
The Magic had a much different makeup last year as they adjusted to life without Dwight Howard. Orlando received Arron Afflalo and Nikola Vucevic, among others, in the offseason trade that sent Howard to the Lakers, and after a decent start, the team floundered as expected without its star.
Both Afflalo and Vucevic were key players for the Magic last season, with Afflalo leading the team with 16.5 points per game and Vucevic averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Glen Davis manned the power forward spot as the team's second-leading scorer at 15.1 points a game. Veteran point guard Jameer Nelson averaged a career-high 6.6 assists per game, as well, but he also shot a career-low 39 percent from the floor.
Who the Magic will take with the second pick in June is anybody’s guess. Noel, the top shot blocker in the draft, would give the Magic the defensive presence down low they’ve missed since Howard left, but it’s unlikely he gets past the Cavaliers. The Magic could also turn to Kansas scorer Ben McLemore, who might have seen his draft stock improve more than any player in college this year. McLemore averaged 15.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the floor and 42 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Michigan’s Trey Burke may be another option. Burke is considered one of the most complete point guards in the draft. Though Nelson is under contract for two more years, the opportunity to tab a point guard of the future will be tempting. Orlando reportedly “had its heart set” on Oklahoma State point guard prospect Marcus Smart before he returned to school.
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