ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic have selected Mohamed Bamba, the 7-footer from Texas, with the sixth overall pick in Thursday night's NBA draft.
The 20-year-old center from New York City averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks as a freshman for the Longhorns.
Bamba's 7-foot-10 wingspan is reportedly the largest ever measured at the NBA draft combine. The Magic exercised the sixth overall pick for the second year in a row, having drafted 6-10 Jonathan Isaac a year ago.
Bamba will go to a Magic franchise that has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in team history.
The Magic have an established center, Nikola Vucevic, who has been the team’s starter at the position since he was acquired in the 2012 trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. Vucevic is a gifted all-around offensive player, but he doesn’t discourage opponents from driving to the hoop.
Vucevic has only one more season remaining on his contract, the 2018-19 season.
Orlando went 25-57 in 2017-18.
One day after the season ended, Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman fired the team’s coach, Frank Vogel.
A search for Vogel’s replacement ended with the hiring of former Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford.
Clifford inherits a team with no clear star.
Forward Aaron Gordon will become a restricted free agent on July 1, but the Magic seem likely to match any offer sheet Gordon might sign from another team.