Orlando Magic: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks
By Chip Murphy
10. Daniel Orton (2010)
- Pick: 29th
- Orlando seasons: 2 (2010-2012)
- Orlando averages: 16 games, 11.7 minutes, 2.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 0.5 steals, 0.3 assists
- Orlando slash line: .567/.000/.440
- Picked before: Hassan Whiteside (33), Lance Stephenson (40)
The Kentucky Wildcats made history when Daniel Orton became the fifth Kentucky player selected in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. It was the first time any school had five players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Unfortunately for the Magic, Orton didn’t share the same type of success as his four college teammates. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, and Patrick Patterson all remain in the league while Orton flamed out after three seasons with three different teams.
Looking back at Orton’s college, career it’s not shocking that he didn’t work out. He averaged just 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game while sitting behind Cousins.
Orton made his NBA debut in January of 2012 – four months before Stan Van Gundy’s firing and eighth months before the Dwight Howard trade. It probably wasn’t a great environment for a young player to be around.
He was a low-risk, high-reward pick for the Magic, so it was up for debate whether or not he should go this low, but he had to be ranked here. Unlike every other player on this list, Orton never contributed a thing to the Magic.