Getty Image / G Fiume
- The Orlando Magic secured the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on Tuesday, marking the 4th time in franchise history Orlando will pick first
- The Magic now have a very realistic shot at starting the tallest lineup in NBA history next season if they go with a top consensus draft pick
- Read more NBA articles here
The Orlando Magic secured the top spot in the 2022 NBA Draft on Tuesday. This will be the fourth time in franchise history the Magic pick #1 overall and signs point to Orlando could take Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren first overall.
If the Magic do decide to take Gonzaga’s big man with their #1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft (instead of Jabari Smith Jr.) they would likely make basketball history next season. That’s because the Orlando Magic would likely have the tallest starting lineup in NBA history with the addition of Chet Holmgren. Though, some teams are reportedly wary of drafting Chet…
Here’s what the projected Orlando Magic lineup would be for the 2022/23 NBA season with the addition of Chet Holmgren and we’ll take a look at the historical context below.
Orlando Magic Could Start The Tallest Lineup In NBA History Next Season
The Magic can field this lineup next season
G: Bol Bol (7’2")
G: Franz Wagner (6’10")
F: Jonathan Isaac (6’11")
F: Mo Bamba (7’0")
C: Chet Holmgren (7’0") pic.twitter.com/2KQWJbUqtp— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 18, 2022
Add that up and the projected Orlando Magic starting lineup next season would measure 419 inches tall. The previous NBA records for the tallest lineups are as follows:
1999 Dallas Mavericks – 414 inches
2020 Denver Nuggets – 412 inches
* 3 teams tied at 411 inches
I won’t sit here and talk about why height isn’t everything in the NBA. Obviously, the 1999 Mavericks and 2020 Nuggets didn’t win the championship in those seasons. But the Magic would be STACKED with talent with the addition of Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.
Is Chet Holmgren Likely To Be Drafted #1 Overall?
It’s actually not a lock that Orlando drafts Chet Holmgren #1 overall. Vegas insiders believe Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Jr. will be taking first and his odds to go #1 are -130 while Chet Holmgren’s odds are +160. But it’s really down to those two players and which one the Orlando Magic ultimately decide their team will benefit from more in the long run.
Jabari spoke with Shams Charania on Tuesday ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft and made a powerful argument for why he should go #1 overall:
Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr., the potential top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, sits down with @Stadium: “Yes, I believe I’m No. 1.” On the values learned from an NBA dad, translating in a position-less era, much more. pic.twitter.com/5xPzvHqGaB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 18, 2022
New NBA Draft boards are in and it seems like insiders are linking Chet to the Magic:
.@AdamFinkelstein's NBA Mock Draft is here‼️
Who do y'all think should go higher? 👀 pic.twitter.com/pxPiDcTcVr
— 247Sports (@247Sports) May 18, 2022
Here’s what NBA fans are saying about Orlando Magic’s potentially historic lineup
The rest of the NBA pic.twitter.com/MgUNGPga3p
— Skips Jawline😳 (@LeBronsDaddySB) May 18, 2022
Chet will be a bust
— Pascal (cancun)Siakam (@Trolledbysiakam) May 18, 2022
Bol bol's knees tryna guard a pg pic.twitter.com/g5aIKRbD8i
— Jīmmy (@five0hfo) May 18, 2022
The fans are absolutely savaging this tall lineup…
Looks like a solid 25 win team
— haha titan up.. (@DuckzSzn) May 18, 2022
81-1 loss to the Pistons
— Dick Nowitzki (4-3) WCF HERE WE COME (@dick_nowitzki) May 18, 2022
He’s not wrong. Imagine anyone on that team trying to shut down Giannis. It’s not happening.
All of them need to hit the weightroom.
— Luka Donut (@Luka_Donut) May 18, 2022
I’ve been a Dallas Mavericks fan for the past 20ish years but grew up loving the Magic with Shaq and Penny. They were the closest geographic team to me. It would be fun to see them relevant again and it remains to be seen if Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr. gets them there faster.