NBA Finals Competition
The Orlando Magic’s decision during the 2016 NBA draft to select Domantas Sabonis has had lasting effects on the league, especially influencing the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The subsequent trade involving Sabonis and Victor Oladipo set both franchises on a path to success, culminating in their showdown in the 2025 NBA Finals. This pivotal moment has highlighted the Magic’s ongoing struggles in finding competitive success, contrasting their trajectory with that of the emerging championship contenders.
Florida – The Orlando Magic’s 2016 draft decision has proved pivotal in shaping the current landscape of the NBA, impacting both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, who are now competing in the 2025 NBA Finals. The chain of events began on June 23, 2016, when the Magic held the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft, subsequently selecting Domantas Sabonis.
Shortly after making their pick, the Magic executed a trade, sending both Sabonis and Victor Oladipo to the Thunder. In return, they received Serge Ibaka, a former defensive stalwart who had played alongside NBA stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. This trade marked the beginning of a cascading series of moves that would reshape multiple franchises in the league.
Just a year later, the Thunder further altered their roster by trading Oladipo and Sabonis to the Pacers in exchange for Paul George. However, the trajectory of the franchises diverged significantly after that point. Paul George, after spending time in Oklahoma City, later demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. That move netted the Thunder a significant haul, including emerging star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), five first-round draft picks, and various other assets.
SGA has since become a superstar and MVP candidate, playing a crucial role in Oklahoma City’s resurgence as a championship contender. Meanwhile, the Pacers retained Sabonis, who developed into a multiple-time All-Star and became integral to the team’s rebuilding efforts. In 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, who has since emerged as a key player in leading the Pacers to their current success in the NBA Finals.
The original trade involving Oladipo and Sabonis not only set the Thunder and Pacers on their respective paths but also laid bare the Magic’s missed opportunities. After 2016, the Magic traded Serge Ibaka to the Toronto Raptors after just 56 games in exchange for Terrence Ross and a future first-round pick, compounding their struggles in the postseason. The franchise has not been able to make significant playoff runs in the years since, highlighting the long-term consequences of their draft decisions.
Notably, the former Magic General Manager, Rob Hennigan, who orchestrated the Oladipo-Sabonis trade, currently serves as the vice president of basketball operations for the Thunder, indicating his continued influence in shaping a successful franchise. The contrasting fortunes of the Magic, who continue to seek a competitive edge, stand in stark contrast to both the Thunder and Pacers, who have established themselves as serious contenders.
The ongoing 2025 NBA Finals features the Thunder and the Pacers representing mid-major markets, displaying the potential for smaller teams to rise to prominence in the league landscape. Fans of the Magic, meanwhile, express frustration not only with the lack of postseason success but also with the franchise’s aesthetic changes, such as their new logo and uniforms, as they yearn for deeper playoff achievements rather than cosmetic improvements.
As the Thunder and Pacers vie for the championship, the consequences of that fateful 2016 trade continue to resonate, illustrating how pivotal decisions in the draft can forever alter the trajectories of professional sports franchises.
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