Magic Gaming’s Draft Movement Sets Team Up For Long-Term Success

ORLANDO – Amidst an extremely active NBA 2K League offseason, Magic Gaming continues to make moves to set the organization up for long-term success.

On Thursday, Magic Gaming dealt the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NBA 2K League Draft to Grizz Gaming as part of a three-team deal that netted them the 19th overall selection in 2022 as well as a 2023 first round pick both courtesy of Pacers Gaming. In return, Indiana received Zach “Vandi” Vandivier from Memphis and a 2023 second round selection from Orlando.

Magic Gaming now possesses picks No. 10, 19, and 32 in the 2022 NBA 2K League Draft, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 26, as well as two first round picks – their own and Indiana’s – in 2023.

“In a lot of ways, we felt that the same player we would get at nineteen is a very similar player to the one we would get at twelve,” said Magic Gaming General Manager and Head Coach Jonah Edwards. “In trading down, we’re able to capture a future asset that can help us moving forward. From my perspective, it was a no-brainer.”

Orlando set the stage for a transformational offseason in November when it decided not to retain forward Daniel “DT” Tlais, a long-time franchise cornerstone. Last month, it continued the overhaul by shipping Brendan “Reizey” Hill, the 2019 NBA 2K League Rookie of the Year, to 76ers GC in exchange for the aforementioned No. 12 overall pick this year’s draft.

“We want to be competitive for years, not just one season,” Edwards explained. “So, I think you see that with these moves. We feel confident with where we’re at. We have tons of potential in the draft as well as the potential to continue to make moves if we want to. It’s certainly not one of those things where we’re selling in the draft or selling the year. By moving down to nineteen, we’re just capturing value in another place and putting ourselves in a position to be a successful organization moving forward.”

Part of that future success will be determined by the two remaining pieces on the roster from last season, shooting guard Justin “Snubby” Stemerman and center Robert “May” May.

In his first season with Magic Gaming, Snubby impressed Orlando with his work ethic and team-first attitude. In his sophomore 2K League campaign, the Connecticut native averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from 3-point range over the course of the regular season.

May is coming off a year where he toggled between center and power forward. Known as Octo-May for his ability to disrupt passing lanes and cause issues for opposing offenses, the third-year 2K League veteran averaged 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals per contest. May led the entire league in field goal percentage, shooting a ridiculous 82.1 percent from the floor, while posting 13.6 points per game. He also finished second among all players in rebounding, pulling down 12.5 boards per contest.

“There are not a lot of teams in the league that could make moves like we decided to make with this trade and have the players be okay with it – they might see it as not trying to win right away or that it’s not the best chance to win and make money this season,” Edwards said. “I think the guys have the understanding and perspective to know that moving forward this is the correct deal. We’re blessed to have them and their awareness to knowing the draft pool well enough to know that we can get a similar player at nineteen as we would at twelve.”

One of those players that could be in consideration at 19 is former Magic Gaming lockdown defender Josue “FutureClutch” Acosta Gomez, who impressed the organization during his rookie season with the club. He along with a number of talented incoming players will be in play as the team aims to best utilize its two first round picks and one second round selection to round out this season’s roster.

“Draft time is always very exciting, but I think this year, it has an extra buzz to it,” Edwards said. “I think this is the most exciting draft that I’ve been a part of and that includes the fact that I drafted number one overall, the first pick ever (while head coach of Mavs Gaming). This is the most exciting draft as far as the high volatility (and) the major trades that have happened. This offseason has been the most wild that I can remember in the NBA 2K League.”

Part of the reason for the immense volatility in terms of predicting potential player’s draft slots is that the NBA 2K League announced that it will pivot from featuring a traditional regular season and instead will now primarily be focused on tournament play – including qualifying events for tournaments – with the season spanning from March through August.

The league’s existing marquee 5v5 tournaments – THE TIPOFF, THE TURN, AND THE TICKET – and the NBA 2K League playoffs and Finals will continue as the key components of standard 5v5 competition.

However, in addition to standard 5v5 competition, the league is partnering with Coinbase to host three new 3v3 tournaments, the SLAM OPEN, SWITCH OPEN and STEAL OPEN, and a culminating 3v3 championship.

The total prize pool, including the pot for the standard 5v5 competition and for the new 3v3 tournaments, will be significantly higher than those awarded during any prior NBA 2K League season.

“It’s absolutely a major factor. The changing of the league format is a big part of the reason there is such volatility in this,” Edwards said of the changes, which also included limiting rosters to five players. “Even going from six players to five players makes it much more difficult for these prospects to find a way to separate themselves from the pack and in that way creates a draft that will be wildly volatile and just really fun to be a part of.”

The league also announced that Indianapolis has been selected as the host city for the NBA 2K League’s fifth anniversary season, which will include a combination of remote and in-person games. Competition tips off on Wednesday, March 23.