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NBA Draft 2013 rumor: Magic's pick could affect Arron Afflalo's future with team, according to report

Orlando's choice in Thursday's Draft could dictate whether it keeps the veteran shooting guard.

Arron Afflalo
Arron Afflalo
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

There's a chance that the Orlando Magic's first-round selection in the 2013 NBA Draft could signal the end of Arron Afflalo's tenure in pinstripes, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Orlando has the second overall pick and is rumored to like Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Hoosiers and Ben McLemore of the Kansas Jayhawks. Both prospects play Afflalo's natural position of shooting guard, though Afflalo did shift to small forward in some Magic lineups in 2012/13.

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Berger says if Orlando selects Oladipo, then it probably wouldn't trade Afflalo, given that it would "need his shooting;" Oladipo is not known as an outside shooter. However, a selection of the more offensively minded McLemore "would essentially green-light a post-draft Afflalo trade," Berger says, because the Magic "would like to get off the $23.3 million Afflalo has left on his contract over the next three years."

Afflalo, acquired from the Denver Nuggets as part of the Dwight Howard trade in August, set new career-highs with averages of 16.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 36 minutes with Orlando. His efficiency suffered as a result of shouldering an increased offensive load, with his True Shooting mark dropping from 58.4 percent in his last season with Denver to a pedestrian 52.7 percent with the Magic.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers pass on Kentucky Wildcats big man Nerlens Noel with the first overall pick, then he could be an option for the Magic as well, says Berger: "Some rival teams believe Orlando will take him or McLemore."

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