Orlando Magic | Last Season: 37-29 (First Round Of Eastern Conference Playoffs) | Draft Picks: 19, 49
Season Summary: Boy, I love Dwight Howard drama. That scenario will never get old. Of course, I am totally kidding. Howard trade rumors sucked up most of the coverage for the Magic, who somehow managed to still make the playoffs while not having Dwight. They were KO’d by the Pacers, but Howard was out with a back injury. Not a very successful season, but you saw Ryan Anderson, Glen Davis, and JJ Reddick make positive steps at least.
Draft Needs: This could get quite interesting. Right now, the Magic have just two picks and will probably go BPA or size. However, if they trade Howard, they should be raking in the draft picks. That means they will have a lot of needs to address and they should be able to retool the roster quite quickly.
Pick #19: Andrew Nicholson | PF | St. Bonaventure
Andrew Nicholson has a wide range of skills on both ends of the court. He’s very long, with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Nicholson is a solid rebounder and shot blocker. His offensive game is developed as well. Nicholson can fill it up from beyond the NBA 3-point line. He finished his career with second in school history with 2,103 points and 244 blocked shots.
2012-2013 Outlook: It all depends on Howard. If they keep him, that is going to be difficult to see them succeeding. If they trade him for a bunch of picks, they will not make the playoffs. If they trade him for guys who can play right now, they might sneak in. The Magic might be the most interesting team to watch next year. Train wrecks are always better when they involve stars.
Check out all of Rant Sports 2012 NBA Draft Grades from the 1st Round.
