Re-draft 2003 NBA Draft

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Frenchman Mickael Pietrus (C) of the Orlando Magic goes up for the basket against Los Angeles Lakers Spaniard Pau Gasol during Game 5 of the NBA finals at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers lead the series 3-1. AFP PHOTO/POOL/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

player. 38. . SF. France. Mickael Pietrus. 15

Mickael Pietrus was another solid international prospect that was taken in the 2003 NBA Draft. Although the Golden State Warriors had just took him a few picks before, in this re-draft he falls a few picks to a team that he helped reach the NBA Finals.

After Pietrus’ career ended with the Warriors, he would then sign with Magic and become a big contributor for the team as a guy that could hit a shot from beyond the arc and also provide big defense.

If the Magic had Pietrus fall to them with their original pick, it’s likely they never drafted Reece Gaines, who ended up being a huge bust and was gone after a year in Orlando. Pietrus would have had an opportunity to really thrive with Orlando for a lot longer than he did and the Magic would have had the opportunity to maybe grow their core a little sooner.

His career wasn’t anything of a star-level quality, but when he was at his best, he was a player who knew how to play his role well and do his job on the court. Perhaps the Magic squeeze some more playoff appearances sooner in the mid-2000’s, if they had those guys that reached the NBA Finals on the roster a little sooner.

The good news is that it’s unlikely having Pietrus would have prevented the Magic from being bad enough to acquire the No. 1 overall pick the next season to draft Dwight Howard.

Next: No. 16 Pick