The NBA Draft Lottery that has surrounded the Orlando Magic for nearly 20 years has come to an end.
The Magic won Tuesday night’s draft lottery in Chicago, coming up with the No. 1 pick for the first time since 2004.
After initial success with the lottery, Magic either stalled or fell from its pre-lottery position in its last 14 tries in 1993.
1 pick in the 2004 lottery when he won the top pick, which resulted in the drafting of Dwight Howard.
This falling trend ended with the Magic, who entered Tuesday with three other teams for the best chances (14%) of getting the No. 1 pick, winning the lottery for the fourth time in franchise history.
The Magic won the lottery in back-to-back years, in 1992 (Shaquille O’Neill) and 1993 (Chris Weber, whom the Orlando traded with the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three future first-rounders).
“I’m so happy for my fans tonight,” said President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Veltman. “They really help with us and on nights like this when you can show fruit why you go through these phases and cycles. Hopefully, they are really excited about it. We have another good youngster in our talent base Going to add on. It’s an exciting night.”
Hours before the lottery, it was announced that coach Jamal Mosley would replace Veltman as the Magic’s on-stage representative.
As the choices before Magic were revealed and it became clear that Magic was going to be the top pick, Mosley began to get excited about the organization.
“I was just trying to be in the moment,” Mosley said. “I wasn’t trying to go too far. I was just trying to work on breathing and being in the best moment possible. I was getting excited for our fanbase, the organization, and this group of young people who want to do this.” How excited it is to add one more young talent to the group that is already linked together.”
Once the top pick was revealed, a celebration ensued among Magic’s on-site crew, which included Cole DeVos, Joel Glass, Alex Martins, John Hammond, Mosley, and Weltman.
“These are tough seasons when you’re not winning,” said Veltman, the league’s second-worst mark in 2021-22 with the Magic’s 22-60 record. “It takes a lot out of you and you’ve got to put forward your belief in your team, players and organization, so when you do get a break, it helps. This is how teams are made. Tonight is a good night for us.”
Now, Magic is in complete control of their draft destiny.
“It’s what you earn tonight: You get to do what you want to do,” Veltman said. “It doesn’t change the workload. In fact, it probably adds to the responsibility, but it’s exciting to have that opportunity. The pressure is a privilege. We are honored to have the pressure of the No. 1 pick.”
The full results of the lottery were: 1. Magic 2. Oklahoma City Thunder 3. Houston Rockets 4. Sacramento Kings 5. Detroit Pistons 6. Indiana Pacers 7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers) 9. San Antonio Spurs 10. Washington Wizards 1 1 new York Knicks 12. thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers) 13. Charlotte Hornets 14. CLevelland Cavaliers,
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