NBA teams with the most to gain and lose in the 2018 Draft

SECAUCUS, NJ - MAY 20: A general view of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery at the NBATV Studios on May 20, 2008 in Secaucus, New Jersey. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Frank Vogel and Aaron Gordon (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

6. Orlando Magic (20-44)

2018 Picks

First Round — projected No. 1 – 5 overall
Second Round (from LAL) — projected 38th-41st overall

In his second season as head coach in Orlando, Frank Vogel has his hands full with another of the youngest rosters in the NBA. Of the Magic’s top ten rotation players, only DJ Augustine and Jonathan Simmons are 28 or older.

Unlike several other teams in the lottery though, Orlando hasn’t just been tanking this season or just starting to rebuild. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2012 and have lost more than 55 games four of the last five years. Vogel is also the fourth coach the team has had since 2015. The team has a young roster but most of the young roster has been there for most of the last four years as the Magic have been “rebuilding”.

The team’s two leading scorers, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier, each average around 18 points per game and have bright futures but they have now had bright futures while averaging close to 20 points per game for four seasons in Orlando. Fournier signed a five-year deal in 2016 so he isn’t going anywhere but Gordon will be an unrestricted free agent following this season and as a versatile, 6-foot-9 22 year-old, the Magic will be competing with half of the NBA to keep him.

Mario Hezonja is a year older and has spent a season less than Gordon has in Orlando. Like Gordon though, Hezonja has been with the Magic long enough to be facing the end of his rookie deal. With little to show for Hezonja’s three seasons, the Magic will have to compete with the rest of the NBA to retain his services past 2018.

Along with Fournier, Bismack Biyombo, Jonathan Isaac, Jonathan Simmons, Wesley Iwundu, and D.J. Augustin are the team’s definite future. All six are signed with Orlando for the next three seasons.

The Magic have been active in trades the last several seasons but have been on the losing end of most of those. With new President, Jeff Weltman, new GM, John Hammond, and an established coach in Frank Vogel, the Magic need a solid draft in 2018.

As important as any single player, they need stability, consistency, and need to show some progress with the top 10 picks they have on their current roster. Keeping Aaron Gordon and building on the roster they have would be the biggest win for the Magic in 2018 but whether he stays or go is quite a toss up at this point.

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