The Orlando Magic have had their fair share of failures in the NBA Draft. Today, however, we will focus on some of the best selections in the history of the franchise.
The Orlando Magic finished the 2016-17 campaign with an abysmal 29-53 record. On top of that, this was the fifth straight year in which they failed to qualify for the postseason.
To add insult on top injury, let’s also throw in the fact the team has not won more than 35 games in any season during that stretch.
With another lost season under its belt, the front office is hoping to improve the roster with the sixth overall pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft. The other side of this story is the Magic have not always done well in the draft.
For example, does the name Fran Vasquez ring a bell? It wouldn’t surprise me if this name doesn’t sound familiar.
You see, the Magic took him with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Much to the team’s chagrin, Vasquez decided to remain in Europe and eventually signed a four-year deal with a team in Spain.
Another instance in which the Magic made a not-so-great choice took place in 2003. That year, the team selected Reece Gaines with the 15th overall pick. He played 71 games in his lone season for the Magic and averaged a whopping 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per contest.
The Magic have had their fair share of misses in the draft. However, in spite of the doom-and-gloom narrative, the team has also had a few success stories in the draft as well. Although they were not easy to find, here is a look back at a few of the notable draft selections in franchise history.