The Orlando Magic will have the first choice of the 2022 draft, the NBA announced on Tuesday after a draw that was held in Chicago (USA).
Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn) and Paolo Banchero (Duke) are the names that appear in the predictions of the experts to be chosen in the first three positions of the draft, which will be held on June 23 a once the NBA Finals are over.
The second pick in the 2022 draft will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the third spot will go to the Houston Rockets and the fourth spot will go to the Sacramento Kings.
Detroit Pistons (fifth pick), Indiana Pacers (sixth), Portland Trail Blazers (seventh), New Orleans Pelicans (eighth, via Los Angeles Lakers), San Antonio Spurs (ninth), Washington Wizards (10th), New York Knicks (11th ), Oklahoma City Thunder (twelfth, via Los Angeles Clippers), Charlotte Hornets (thirteenth) and Cleveland Cavaliers (fourteenth) completed the draw.
The Magic were the worst team in the Eastern Conference in the regular season (22-60) and had a 14% chance of winning the first place in this draft, the same percentage that the Houston Rockets, the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Pistons had. Oklahoma City Thunder (these adding their two picks in the top 14).
This is the fourth time the Magic have had the first pick in the draft.
In the previous three they selected Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993, but was traded to the Golden State Warriors) and Dwight Howard (2004).
The top pick in the draft will be a boon to a franchise in need of some good news.
Orlando hasn’t qualified for the playoffs in the last two years, has only played in the playoffs twice in the last ten years and hasn’t made it past the first round since the 2009-2010 season.
In last season’s draft, the Magic took Jalen Suggs fifth and Franz Wagner eighth.
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