The Official 2013 Orlando Magic Offseason Thread

[Richboi804]

Orlando Magic fans approach Pat Williams whenever they see him around town these days.

"Come on home with the first pick," they say.

"Bring it on back," they say.

"OK, we're looking for that first pick," they say.


What those strangers are referring to is the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery, which will take place Tuesday night in midtown Manhattan. The Magic own a 25-percent chance of winning the top overall pick, the highest probability of any team, and Williams will be there once again, on stage, serving as the public face of the franchise.

Williams, the Magic's co-founder and senior vice president, is a living, breathing good-luck charm. His teams have won the lottery four different times: the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986 and the Magic in 1992, 1993 and 2004.

"People just expect another one," he says now, chuckling. "We only have a 25-percent chance! I guess if I don't come back with the top pick, they'll say, 'Boy, what a bum he is. What was he doing up there?' "

Many people remember Williams for his lottery fortune instead of his skill and accomplishments as a sports executive.

Major networks have televised the lottery ever since the its inception in 1985, and Williams' reactions to his victories have been priceless.

In 1986, he sat next to legendary Boston Celtics executive Red Auerbach as NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the Sixers won. Williams raised his right fist and smiled ear to ear.

Philadelphia eventually traded that pick away.

In 1992, the Magic entered the lottery with a 15-percent chance of winning. As Stern announced that the Charlotte Hornets were runners-up, leaving the Magic as the winners, a shocked Williams exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, "We won it?!? Are you kidding me?!?"

The Magic used that top overall pick to draft Shaquille O'Neal.

During O'Neal's rookie season, Orlando finished 41-41 and missed qualifying for the playoffs.

In 1993, the Magic began the lottery with a 1-in-66 chance of winning, the lowest possible chance at that time. One by one, Stern read off the names of the teams that didn't win. When Stern finally announced that the 76ers were the runners-up, therefore making the Magic the winners, people in attendance gasped.

"Un-believable!" NBC host Bob Costas said.

"And," Stern said, "believe it or not, the first pick in the 1993 NBA Draft goes to the Orlando Magic."

Costas said: "This is in the category of 'Go Figure!' "

Williams recalls he felt like jumping for joy.

"But," he says, "I didn't want anybody to see it, because I knew in that room there was a lot of hostility. The room was happy for us in '92 and not happy in '93."

The Magic wound up using the first pick to select Chris Webber, then immediately traded Webber to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three future first-round picks.

After that lottery, the NBA changed its lottery rules, making it even tougher for teams with the best non-playoff records to win.

In 2004, the Magic had a 25-percent chance of winning the lottery.

When NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik announced that the Los Angeles Clippers were the runners-up, leaving the Magic as the winner, Williams immediately rose from his seat and pumped both fists above his head.

As Williams walked to Granik to shake hands, Granik shook his head and said, "Unbelievable."

After the lottery ended, Williams posed for a now-famous picture in which he kissed one of the Magic's winning pingpong balls.

The Magic used their top pick that year to select Dwight Howard.

Today, three pingpong balls — one from each of the Magic's lottery victories — are on display at the team's corporate headquarters at RDV Sportsplex.

"They get to sit there and glow at people as they come by to visit," Williams says. "They would love to have a fourth little brother to come in there and join them."

Williams never considered himself especially lucky until he won his first lottery.

Over the years, he's brought boxes of Lucky Charms cereal, rabbit's feet and four-leaf clovers to the event.

What some people watching at home don't understand is that the actual drawing of the pingpong balls occurs in a separate room before the event is broadcast. The people on stage whom viewers see don't attend the actual drawing.

This year, Joel Glass, the Magic's senior vice president for communications, will serve as the franchise's observer during the drawing. After the drawing is done, Glass and the other people in the room won't be allowed to communicate with the outside world until after the lottery winner is announced publicly.

Meanwhile, Williams, now 73 and almost two years removed from a diagnosis of the blood disease multiple myeloma, will be on stage.

Magic CEO Alex Martins, GM Rob Hennigan and coach Jacque Vaughn are scheduled to sit in the studio audience.

They'll learn the results at the same time Williams does.

And they'll hope Williams will be the Magic's good-luck charm again.

"I think luck exists in life," Hennigan says. "So why wouldn't it exist when it comes to the lottery?"

Pat.

 

[Richboi804]

The Orlando Magic did not win the NBA Draft Lottery, and the No. 1 pick in the June 26 NBA draft will be made by Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic will pick No. 2.

The Magic, who finished with the worst record in the league this season, had the most chances of winning Tuesday night's draft lottery – 25 percent. But the team with the worst record and the most chances of winning lottery had not won the No. 1 pick since … the Magic did it in 2004.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a 15.6 percent chance fo winning the No. 1 pick. The Washington Wizards, who moved up to No. 3, had a 3.5 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick.

The Magic were hoping to win the No. 1 pick for the fourth time in franchise history -- because those picks turned out to have a major impact on the team.

The first time was in 1992, when the team selected center Shaquille O’Neal out of Louisiana State.

The Magic just missed the playoffs in Shaq’s rookie season and were back in the draft lottery in 1993 – and they won yet again taking Chris Webber No. 1, and then trading him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway of Memphis State.

The third time the Magic won was in 2004, when the team selected Dwight Howard out of high school.

If it's any consolation for Magic fans, this year's draft isn't expected to produce a franchise-changing player.

On hand all three previous times the Magic won was Pat Williams. He was there again on Tuesday night, but his lottery luck ran out this time.

With the draft pick in hand, the Magic’s attention will now turn to who to take with their selection.

At last week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Magic officials took closer looks at the likes of Kentucky Wildcats center Nerlens Noel, Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Ben McLemore and Michigan Wolverines point guard Trey Burke. Those three players are expected to be among the top ones taken in the draft.

As early as this week, the Magic may start bringing prospective players to Orlando for interviews and workouts with the team.

 

[Brehmington Steele]

but we're supposed to get the first next year

 

[Codeine Bryant]

There aren't many sports teams I give a fukk about outside of my own city, but I truly feel for Magic fans. After the shyt Shaq, T-Mac, and now Dwight put the city and organization through, I can't help but want good things for the fans of that franchise.

I know @TheGreatShowtime was after those 2009 NBA Finals. Management should have never disrupted the playoff run by reinserting Jameer into the lineup.


Not getting the 1st pick might be a blessing in disguise for Orlando fans. This way you get to draft a premier PG (Trey Burke comes to mind) and then come back next year to get Wiggins.

Either way, I hope for positive things for your perennially-tortured franchise

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

There aren't many sports teams I give a fukk about outside of my own city, but I truly feel for Magic fans. After the shyt Shaq, T-Mac, and now Dwight put the city and organization through, I can't help but want good things for the fans of that franchise.

I know @TheGreatShowtime was after those 2009 NBA Finals. Management should have never disrupted the playoff run by reinserting Jameer into the lineup.


Not getting the 1st pick might be a blessing in disguise for Orlando fans. This way you get to draft a premier PG (Trey Burke comes to mind) and then come back next year to get Wiggins.

Either way, I hope for positive things for your perennially-tortured franchise

I'm hoping for Trey Burke and either Wiggins/Parker next year.

 

[Richboi804]

guaranteed Mclemore or Burke

 

[CACtain Planet]

Burke

 

[tremonthustler1]

Who's picking for Orlando in The-Coli mock?
@Richboi804
@I-Hate-You
@TheGreatShowtime

 

[Tres Leches]

#2 this season #1 next

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

Who's picking for Orlando in The-Coli mock?
@Richboi804
@I-Hate-You
@TheGreatShowtime

@Richboi804 been holding it down, so I'll give way to him. He better pick Burke though

 

[Richboi804]

Who's picking for Orlando in The-Coli mock?
@Richboi804
@I-Hate-You
@TheGreatShowtime

@Richboi804 been holding it down, so I'll give way to him. He better pick Burke though

Burke it is then

 

[Marciano]

I don't see why folks would want Wiggins/Parker next year when we have Harris at 3....unless ya'll want him to move to 4. I'd rather take McLemore over Burke & Noel. We've already had two bad cases where taking hyped big men (Shaq was the truth though) and where it's gotten us.

I'd rather see us make a run at Smart next year for him to run the 1 instead of Burke. Smart was going to be our dude had he came out this year.

 

[Trust Me]

guaranteed Mclemore or Burke

I'm torn to be honest.

Burke gives us that floor general (and I'm a MICHIGAN fan) .. but McLemore give us scoring and athleticism from the 2 guard spot. I cant remember the last time we had a triple threat from the 2.

I think Oladipo's gonna be good too .. just not at #2 .

 

[Marciano]

I'm torn to be honest.

Burke gives us that floor general (and I'm a MICHIGAN fan) .. but McLemore give us scoring and athleticism from the 2 guard spot. I cant remember the last time we had a triple threat from the 2.

I think Oladipo's gonna be good too .. just not at #2 .

We tried that in recent years, with two past their prime players - Vince Carter & Jason Richardson.

The reason I'd rather us get McLemore than next year, hopefully to get Smart is the point you brought out. The triple threat of McLemore. Plus with Smart, he has the scoring ability & skillset to run the 1....plus he has the height & defense to have a good chance to keep up with the likes of Rondo, Wall, D. Williams, Westbrook, Paul, etc. Besides Paul, Burke is too small for them dudes

 

[jaguar paw]

Just out of curiousity how in love is the front office with Vucci Mane?

Is he untouchable?

Would they swap with Cleveland for the rights to Noel and the #2 ?