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) They 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 once the NBA Finals have finished.
The second choice of the 2022 draft will be for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the third position will correspond to the Houston Rockets and fourth place will be held by 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, goes 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 Oklahoma City Thunder had (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 first place in the draft will be of great help to a franchise in need of good news. Orlando has not qualified for the playoffs in the last two years, he has only played in the playoffs twice in the last ten years and has not passed the first round since the 2009-2010 season. In last season’s draft, the Magic took Jalen Suggs fifth and Franz Wagner eighth.
