3 nightmare NBA Draft Lottery scenarios that would hurt Raptors
By Mike Luciano
2. The Magic land Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson
Orlando is an ascending young team that already has the Rookie of the Year in Poalo Banchero and a pair of ascending co-stars in Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. They are also linked to Fred VanVleet, giving them a potential veteran starter that can take them to the next level.
If the Magic get Wembanyama, they will have both frontcourt spots locked down for the next decade, at the very least, all while still holding onto some interesting backcourt pieces. If they nab Henderson (and potentially get him a mentor like VanVleet), the offense could get kicked into high gear instantly.
The Orlando Magic could leapfrog the Toronto Raptors.
Why does this impact the Raptors? Well, Orlando would instantly become a playoff-caliber team if they pull off these moves, further pushing the Raptors out of the mix in what has quickly become a very crowded Eastern Conference picture. One of those two big names could make Orlando a dynamic young team that exceeds the Raptors.
Gone are the days when Raptors fans could start the season with three or four easy wins against a Magic team that kept tripping over their own feet. They have a very solid nucleus, and using either their pick or the Chicago Bulls’ selection could tip the scales in their favor.