Magic have no luck moving up from No. 5 in NBA Draft lottery
The Orlando Magic aren't going to get either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor in the NBA Draft. And since they don't need a point guard, they aren't going to get D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay either.
By not moving up or down Tuesday night in the draft lottery which took place before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, what the Magic eventually do with the fifth pick will be shrouded in mystery in the weeks leading up to the night of June 25.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who became the first team since the 2004 Magic to win the lottery with the best odds of doing so, are a cinch to take either Towns or Okafor, both of whom turned pro following their freshman seasons. Okafor's Duke teammate, Justise Winslow, is generally regarded as the fifth-best prospect in the draft. But a year after taking a small forward fourth overall in Aaron Gordon, chances are Winslow might not fit in their plans.
And after Elfrid Payton started 63 games at point guard and was named Monday to the league's all-rookie team, it's reasonable to presume that both Russell and Mudiay will be chosen by other teams.
Kristaps Porzingis, anyone?
A 7-footer from Latvia who won't turn 20 until Aug. 2, Porzingis has already drawn comparisons to Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki with his smooth-shooting style. Those with long memories are likely to cringe, remembering that the last time the Magic spent a lottery pick on someone without any college experience, it was the infamous Fran Vazquez.
But Porzingis could be just what is needed after Channing Frye didn't produce as hoped at power forward.
The Magic, who went into the night with only an 8.8 percent chance of winning the lottery, hadn't picked fifth since 2000. They did all right for themselves back then, taking Mike Miller out of Florida and watching him turn in the following season's Rookie of the Year.
So while moving senior vice president Pat Williams from the onstage panel to the nerve center away from the television cameras didn't bring a sweeping change of luck, the Magic could still be in luck when their pick is announced by commissioner Adam Silver.
"It's fun to win," Williams said before the lottery. "And it does give you lots of advantages. However, there are good players all the way down every year."
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
