NBA Draft Lottery: Could Victor Wembanyama 'Catapult' Magic 'Up Several Levels?'
The Orlando Magic is no stranger to drafting generational talents No. 1 overall - especially at the center position.
In 1992, the team selected one of the league's most dominant forces in Shaquille O'Neal following a 21-win campaign. And just 12 years later, the team selected eventual three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Dwight Howard with the top pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
But none of that seems to matter with a chance to land French superstar Victor Wembanyama - arguably the league's most tantalizing prospect since LeBron James.
Orlando enters the draft with the sixth-best odds and a nine percent chance to be awarded the No. 1 overall pick, behind the Portland Trail Blazers (10.5 percent), Charlotte Hornets (12.5 percent), San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons (14.0 percent).
"The Magic already were a fun team, and the addition of Wembanyama would catapult the franchise up several levels," The Athletic wrote. "It would be stratospherically fun to see a frontcourt of Wembanyama, Bol Bol and Jonathan Isaac.
"Chances are he’d unseat Wendell Carter Jr. as the team’s starting center to give Orlando a starting five of Markelle Fultz at point guard, Gary Harris at shooting guard, Franz Wagner at small forward, [Paolo Banchero] at power forward and Wembanyama."
Following a 22-win season the prior, Orlando was awarded the No. 1 last season and selected Banchero, the league's eventual Rookie of the Year winner.
And with the addition of Banchero, Orlando saw a 12-win leap while nearly reache the NBA's Play-In tournament.
"Suddenly, the Magic would have the best young nucleus of talent in the entire league," The Athletic writes. "The most likely outcome would be to contend for the sixth or seventh spots in the East."
The NBA Draft Lottery is held on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN.
You can follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Magic? Click Here.
Follow The Magic Insider on Facebook.
Follow The Magic Insider on Twitter.
Want even more Orlando Magic news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
