Orlando Magic, you are on the clock. The Magic won the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, which was held at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The NBA Draft is set for June 23 and the Magic will pick first.
This is the first time the Magic will pick first overall since 2004 when they drafted Dwight Howard. Prior to that year, the Magic used a No. 1 pick to pick up Shaquille O’neal in 1992. The Magic traded their 1993 No. 1 pick to get Penny Hardaway. That pick resulted in the Golden State Warriors picking up Chris Webber.
“The fans, the organization, it’s so exciting,” said Jamahl Mosley, Magic head coach. “It’s so much to look forward to with this organization and this group and this fan base, it’s gonna be special.”
Orlando, along with the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons, had a 14 percent chance of getting the first pick. The Magic’s pick will join a young core that features Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner. Top big man prospects Jabari Smith of Auburn, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero are all available to Orlando.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will choose No. 2 overall, their first top-four pick since drafting James Harden in 2009. At No. 12, the Thunder have a second lottery pick. The Rockets, who held the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, will draft at No. 3.
