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Working out in OKC today. Apparently this Ray, not CJ
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LinkSchmitz'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.
Working out in OKC today. Apparently this Ray, not CJ
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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.
The squad gonna suck again this year to get Wiggins or SmartTobias, 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.