Orlando Magic

The NBA Draft Lottery will determine the order in which the 14 teams who did not qualify for the postseason will select in the 2013 NBA Draft. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21st at 8:30 PM Eastern/5:30 PM Pacific. ESPN's crew of Mark Jones, Jay Bilas, and Heather Cox will provide live coverage. The Orlando Magic finished the 2012/13 season with a 20-62 record, the NBA's worst. As a result, they have the best odds--25 percent--of earning the first overall pick in the NBA Draft; in addition, Orlando can pick no lower than fourth overall. More NBA Draft coverage: Orlando Pinstriped Post SB Nation Pat Williams, the Magic's Senior Executive Vice President, is scheduled to represent his team at Tuesday's event. Williams was present for each of Orlando's three other lottery wins in 1992, 1993, and 2004. Below are the odds of earning a top-four selection for each of the league's 14 lottery teams. The rightmost column lists the odds of each team finishing outside the top four. Team No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 Outside top 4 Orlando Magic 25.00% 21.51% 17.77% 35.73% 0.00% Charlotte Bobcats 19.90% 18.81% 17.12% 31.86% 12.32% Cleveland Cavaliers 15.60% 15.74% 15.58% 22.56% 30.52% Phoenix Suns 11.90% 12.60% 13.30% 9.85% 52.35% New Orleans Pelicans 8.80% 9.65% 10.68% 0.00% 70.87% Sacramento Kings 6.30% 7.10% 8.11% 0.00% 78.50% Detroit Pistons 3.60% 4.16% 4.91% 0.00% 87.32% Washington Wizards 3.50% 4.05% 4.79% 0.00% 87.66% Minnesota Timberwolves 1.70% 2.00% 2.41% 0.00% 93.892% Portland Trail Blazers 1.10% 1.30% 1.58% 0.00% 96.031% Philadelphia 76ers 0.80% 0.95% 1.15% 0.00% 97.1001% Toronto Raptors 0.70% 0.83% 1.01% 0.00% 97.46% Dallas Mavericks 0.60% 0.71% 0.87% 0.00% 97.82% Utah Jazz 0.50% 0.59% 0.72% 0.00% 98.18% The last time the team with the best odds of winning the lottery indeed hit the jackpot was in 2004, when the 21-61 Magic scored big. The team would go on to select 18-year-old center prospect Dwight Howard ahead of the more polished Emeka Okafor in June, a decision which paid dividends over Howard's eight-year career in the City Beautiful. The Pelicans, then known as the Hornets, won the 2012 Draft Lottery, owning just a 13.7 percent chance of doing so. The longest-shot lotto victory in the last five seasons came in 2008, when the Chicago Bulls had just a 1.7 percent chance of hitting paydirt. Just three seasons later, Derrick Rose, the Bulls' selection, earned his first MVP trophy. Looking for Orlando Magic tickets? Orlando Pinstriped Post has you covered. We invite you to follow Orlando Pinstriped Post on Twitter and like Orlando Pinstriped Post on Facebook.

Dennis Schroeder exploded on the national scene after his stellar performance at the Nike Hoop Summit. Since then he has been catapulting up draft boards and mock drafts alike. Appearing at the NBA combine armed with a rumored "first round guarantee" he engaged in several media interviews. During a Q&A session an issue was brought up that raises some concern. This concern has led me to write this post. So here is my opinion of what transpired. In an interview at the hoop summit Schroeder who plays professionally in Germany explains how his German team is one win away from advancing to the second division "whatever the heck that means" he pronounced upon his return to Germany that he quote "try my best to win the game in Bremerhaven". Fast forward to his combine media interviews and a question was asked about a rumored issue between he and his coach. Schroeder explained with a almost condescending grin that upon the eve of this big game post hoop summit that he overslept and missed practice and during this big game his coach essentially benched him! He also concedes that in the waining moments of the game coach asked him to go in and he refused. He goes on to explain the he was cold and concerned over a possible injury. Let me break this thing down for you all. Schroeder kicks butt at hoop summit smoking projected 2014 lottery candidates NBA front office promises the young pg to be a first rounder in upcoming draft. Armed with this the nineteen year old then decides or agrees not compete in Europe for fear of injury$$$$ I know our first instinct is to say oh it's just some crap league over in Europe. I think there's more to it than that. There is a moral tug of war at play here . On one side we have honor, respect, loyalty, commitment and on the other family, future, self preservation. I leave the debate to you "dennis schroeder character issue or new norm with economics in pro sports"? Dennis Schroeder exploded on the national scene after his stellar performance at the Nike Hoop Summit. Since then he has been catapulting up draft boards and mock drafts alike. Appearing at the NBA combine armed with a rumored "first round guarantee" he engaged in several media interviews. During a Q&A session an issue was brought up that raises some concern. This concern has led me to write this post. So here is my opinion of what transpired. In an interview at the hoop summit Schroeder who plays professionally in Germany explains how his German team is one win away from advancing to the second division "whatever the heck that means" he pronounced upon his return to Germany that he quote "try my best to win the game in Bremerhaven". Fast forward to his combine media interviews and a question was asked about a rumored issue between he and his coach. Schroeder explained with a almost condescending grin that upon the eve of this big game post hoop summit that he overslept and missed practice and during this big game his coach essentially benched him! He also concedes that in the waining moments of the game coach asked him to go in and he refused. He goes on to explain the he was cold and concerned over a possible injury. Let me break this thing down for you all. Schroeder kicks butt at hoop summit smoking projected 2014 lottery candidates NBA front office promises the young pg to be a first rounder in upcoming draft. Armed with this the nineteen year old then decides or agrees not compete in Europe for fear of injury$$$$ I know our first instinct is to say oh it's just some crap league over in Europe. I think there's more to it than that. There is a moral tug of war at play here . On one side we have honor, respect, loyalty, commitment and on the other family, future, self preservation. I leave the debate to you "dennis schroeder character issue or new norm with economics in pro sports"?

The NBA’s version of Powerball takes place Tuesday night and the Orlando Magic have the best odds at winning the Draft Lottery. The problem, however, is that no one is exactly sure about the size of the prize for the team whose lottery balls are selected.

After a calendar year of franchise-changing decisions and a regular season dominated by losses, the next stage of the Orlando Magic's rebuilding process will be determined by the random bounces of 14 pingpong balls Tuesday night.

I'm trying to get my self into the Orlando Magic writing game. I didn't pay as much attention to the 2012-2013 season as much as I wanted to. I know that the team didn't do too great and that Vucevic is pretty good. But I want to know more. If someone can help me in what I need to know going into the 2013-2014 season, or at least refer me to something that could help me out on this issue. I'd like to learn about to team so I don't look stupid when trying to interact on this site come next season. Thanks for the help! I'm trying to get my self into the Orlando Magic writing game. I didn't pay as much attention to the 2012-2013 season as much as I wanted to. I know that the team didn't do too great and that Vucevic is pretty good. But I want to know more. If someone can help me in what I need to know going into the 2013-2014 season, or at least refer me to something that could help me out on this issue. I'd like to learn about to team so I don't look stupid when trying to interact on this site come next season. Thanks for the help!

Over the next few weeks Orlando Magic Daily will be taking a look at the things that went right and wrong this season as Orlando ended its season with its first Lottery season in six years. I have already highlighted Rob Hennigan and the positivity surrounding the Magic after a 20-win season and even the youth on the roster. In fact, those are most of the things that went right for the Magic this season. It is hard to find positives in the immediate of the season. The Magic finished with the worst record in the league after all. It was expected that the Magic would finish at the bottom or near the bottom of the standings. Wins were going to be a struggle. Grasping for something positive would have to come from something intangible. That intangible might have been the youth on the roster and the hope for the future. It might have been the emergence of young players or the improved decision making that management seemed to be using. It might have been the work and effort that the veterans put in, buying into the message of a team destined to lose and develop many of the players' replacements. It was an awkward spot for them to be in. But they made the best of it and have added to the future of the franchise. That was what this season was all about to a large extent. Building the foundations for the future of the franchise. Or at least clearing the underbrush to put down those foundations with this year's upcoming draft. Pleasant surprises though made the 20-win journey a lot more enjoyable than previously expected. It made the Magic's job of selling the future all the easy. It started from the beginning of the season when Nikola Vucevic proved to be a double double machine. Unexpectedly, the Magic not only had a promising young center, but someone who could come in and be an immediate contributor. Perhaps it was because of the increased playing time and the confidence coaches put in him, or perhaps it was Vucevic returning to health after a difficult rookie season where Doug Collins said he dealt with injury for really the first time in his basketball-playing life. It continued on as Andrew Nicholson emerged as a player who could contribute on a seemingly regular basis -- certainly off the bench -- proving Rob Hennigan had an eye for talent after taking him with the 19th overall selection in the 2012 Draft. The once lambasted Dwight Howard trade, in which the Magic received no immediate star, bore more fruit in the form of Maurice Harkless. Not only did the Magic receive a productive center in the form of Vucevic, but also an athletic wing in Harkless with boundless upside at 19 years old and at least the rudimentary defensive skills to become a key player for the franchise moving forward. In case this was not an embarassment of riches (relatively) already, Hennigan traded J.J. Redick for an unknown in Tobias Harris. His research paid off as Harris ended up the Magic's leading scorer by points per game averaging 17.3 points per game in 27 games in Orlando. His strong play and confidence grew as the season went on. Opportunity was a powerful force for him. Seeing as these players, who for now form the core fo the Magic's future along with this year's upcoming draft pick and possibly their 2014 pick, are all either entering their second or third year. There is lots of optimism after these players played their first year with real playing time at the NBA level that they will continue to improve. There is no reason to think otherwise -- particularly when thinking about how the coaching staff helped Maurice Harkless improve so drastically from the beginning of the season to the end. The Magic's future is banked on how these players -- along with the future draft picks -- grow together. That is the model Rob Hennigan is bringing over from Oklahoma City. There will be hard decisions in the days ahead. But right now, Orlando is selling the fans on its

Apr 10, 2013; Bloomington, IN, USA; Cody Zeller at the press conference for the NBA draft. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports The twin towers concept hasn’t been the most popular in the game of basketball, either at the NCAA level or the NBA. It’s certainly had success, from Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon to Tim Duncan and David Robinson—but the movement never really gained steam, and maybe it isn’t the most conventional way of forming a frontline. But could it ultimately be the best prospect that the 2013 NBA Draft affords the Orlando Magic? Nikola Vucevic proved himself to be the starting center of the future. In his first full season as an NBA stater, Vucevic finished No. 2 in the league in rebounding, while posting a double-double and emerging as the starter after originally being slated for a time-share with the departed Gustavo Ayon. Vucevic has all the makings of a future All-Star, but the Magic do have options as to how the team will seek to shape its frontcourt. Tobias Harris and Andrew Nicholson both saw time starting at the 4-spot, but Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan may look to some of the 4/5 prospects in this draft to form a far different frontcourt. Alex Len, Cody Zeller and Nerlens Noel are all projected to be top-five picks in the draft, and all three should be capable of playing some center. Len is likely the only who may be ready to assume full-time duties at the 5-spot, but the fact remains that all three are long, able-bodied NBA big men.

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Trey Burke is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports The Orlando Magic are at a crossroads as they approach the 2013 NBA Draft.  They’re likely to land a top-three pick, but the player who best fits their needs is Trey Burke of Michigan. Burke has done nothing but increase his stock since the midway point of the 2012-13 NCAA season, but the 6’0″ floor general is still not expected to go until the 7th overall pick according to NBADraft.net. The Magic’s oldest starter is 31-year-old Jameer Nelson, and ideally Rob Hennigan would like to grab Burke for Nelson to mentor. Their games are similar, but Burke’s high upside should be the peak Nelson was never able to prolong. If the Magic aren’t able to work a suitable deal to move down, an entirely different direction could be taken. Nerlens Noel was originally slotted by Chad Ford, NBADraft.net and Draft Express as a No. 1 overall pick prior to his horrible ACL injury. The thing is, we’ve now seen guys come back from this, and though Noel’s injury was particularly gruesome, he was the only one in this draft with perennial All-Star type talent. He showed far more skill offensively than most expected he would, particularly in passing the ball out of double teams and moving without the ball. Noel is still very raw, but with some hard work and instruction he could be the best player in the draft. There is more, though: Noel further enhances the Magic’s chances of tanking for another high pick in the much more lucrative 2014 crop of rookies. Whether the Magic trade down for Burke, select Ben McLemore for another team and trade him, or take Noel with a Jan 15, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) passes the ball against Tennessee Volunteers forward Jarnell Stokes (5) in the first half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 75-65. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports high selection — It won’t make or break this rebuilding process. Hennigan already landed his major chip when he acquired Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless are looking like great acquisitions from the Dwight Howard deal. The trio could be the Magic’s frontcourt of the future, but Noel is an intriguing prospect who could potentially play both the 4 and the 5. Burke could be the guy that Hennigan sees leading his team into the next era. While Burke and Noel may be entirely different players, it seems Hennigan will be wisest to consider the best two talents in the class. Marcus Smart had been the Magic’s coveted one, but he didn’t enter the draft, which makes the Burke scenario a pretty attractive one for Hennigan.

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Nerlens Noel is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Nerlens Noel was projected to go first overall by Chad Ford, NBADraft.net and Draft Express prior to a gruesome ACL injury that saw the 6’11″ big man writhe in the floor, his career in the air. But is it in the air? Noel’s injury twisted the faces and stomaches of his teammates into knots, but players have recovered from ACL injuries more so in recent years than even five to seven years ago. DeJuan Blair plays with no ACLs; Baron Davis tore both—and both players continued to play at a high level. If Noel can fully recover, he should be able to cash in on that immense potential. When we had Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD on the Dig N Shot podcast, Alex felt Noel’s talent alone should still render him the No. 1 overall pick. With the draft just about a month away, Noel is still projected to go No. 2 overall by NBADraft.net, and only Ben McLemore of Kansas is given higher prospects. So what is it that is causing teams to consider a guy who had what could have just been a career ending injury?

The Magic made Andrew Nicholson the 19th pick in the NBA Draft nearly a year ago. It seems like Nicholson has been playing longer, since his refined post game made him an immediate impact player for the Magic. Moreso than any of the other rookies on the Magic's roster. He still has a lot to improve on -- specifically on the defensive end. But Nicholson's post game and mid-range shooting make him a player that is clearly apart of the Magic's future rotation -- at the very least coming off the bench. Orlando is hoping Nicholson continues to improve and build upon a strong rookie season. Nicholson though has a strong following and a lot of support to get there. From the vocal St. Bonaventure fans that made the trek to Cleveland twice for Nicholson's games or flood Twitter with support for Andrew Nicholson or his fans in his native Canada and Mississauga outside Toronto. There are a lot of people very proud of this rookie. Nicholson brought his experience and expertise to the Five To Watch Conference, honoring five young sports business leaders in Canada, as a keynote speaker at the conference. Knowing how some of his interviews go, that should have been a very interesting talk. But Nicholson has a lot of experience to impart. He came to basketball late after playing baseball most of his youth life. He took to the sport pretty quickly and obviously made the NBA. The event was private and there is not video of the speech, but the Five To Watch twitter feed provided this nugget: Andrew Nicholson - Canadian making it in the #NBA. Speaking tonight at #5towatch @nicholaf44 twitter.com/5ToWatch/statu… — 5 To Watch(@5ToWatch) May 17, 2013 "A good coach is one that can give criticism, but take criticism we well" - @nicholaf44 #5towatch @5towatch #torontotalent @nba_canada — Ashley Hoy (@AshleyConstance) May 17, 2013 Nicholson told Mississisauga.com he feels he had a strong rookie campaign. And he only has improvement ahead. He said he hopes to be able to play for an increasingly talented Canada national team in the upcoming Olympic cycle. That team likely will include Tristan Thompson, Robert Sacre and Andrew Wiggins among others. Hopefully, Nicholson got some R&R back home before getting back to work. Several players have been shuttling in and out of Orlando already for various community events and workouts. The Magic players individually will surely be picking things up as the draft picks make their way down for individual workouts and Summer League kicks off in July.