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Players from Gonzaga and Michigan who were drafted by or played for the Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic v Milwaukee Bucks

Just last week, the Orlando Magic used their two lottery picks to hopefully shape the future of the franchise for the better.

The top pick was guard Jalen Suggs, out of Gonzaga, who went fifth overall. Three picks later, Michigan forward Franz Wagner was the newest member of the Magic.

Suggs and Wagner won’t be the first players from their respective schools to be drafted or play for Orlando. We look back on the previous Magic picks and players from Gonzaga and Michigan:

Gonzaga

Domantas Sabonis, F/C*

How Acquired: Drafted 11th overall in 2016 (traded to Oklahoma City Thunder)

Tenure with Magic: N/A

Magic Stats: N/A

Overview: This one gets an asterisk. Jalen Suggs isn’t the first Gonzaga player drafted by Orlando, but he hopefully will be the first to suit up. The Magic used their lottery pick in 2016 to draft Domantas Sabonis, but he was traded on draft night in what be one of the franchise’s biggest draft night blunders. Sabonis has gone on to make the All-Star Game for the Indiana Pacers in each of the last two seasons.

Michigan

Tariq Abdul-Wahad, G/F*

How Acquired: Traded by Sacramento Kings with a draft pick for Nick Anderson

Tenure with Magic: 1999-2000 (46 games)

Magic Stats: 12.2 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 1.2 steals per game, 43% field goals

Overview: This one also gets an asterisk since Tariq Abdul-Wahad began his college career at Michigan, but finished at San Jose State. Abdul-Wahad spent about half a season on Orlando’s “Heart and Hustle” team during the 1999-00 season. He was a solid contributor, but was ultimately dealt with Chris Gatling and a first-round pick for Chauncey Billups, Johnny Taylor and Ron Mercer.

Ignas Brazdeikas, G/F

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent

Tenure with Magic: 2021-present

Magic Stats: 11.1 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, 44% field goals

Overview: Originally signed to a 10-day contract last season, Ignas Brazdeikas played well in eight games for Orlando. Playing for his third team last season, Brazdeikas averaged better than 11 points per game for Orlando, including a career-high 21 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the next-to-last game of the season.

Sean Higgins, F

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent

Tenure with Magic: 1992 (32 games)

Magic Stats: 8.6 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, 47% field goals

Overview: Originally signed to two 10-day contracts and then for the remainder of the 1991-92 season by the Magic, Higgins appeared in 32 games for Orlando and made 12 starts. Higgins provided solid production, averaging nearly nine points per contest. That included a career-high 29 points against the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 1992.

Juwan Howard, F/C

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent

Tenure with Magic: 2003-04 (81 games)

Magic Stats: 17 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, 45% field goals

Overview: Juwan Howard played just one season for Orlando. While it was a disappointing campaign for the Magic as a team, Howard performed admirably, ranking second on the team in scoring and first in rebounds. After a 21-61 season, Howard was part of the trade that sent Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets and Steve Francis to the Magic.

Moritz Wagner, C

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent

Tenure with Magic: 2021-present

Magic Stats: 11 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 0.8 blocks per game, 41% field goals, 37% 3-pointers

Overview: The brother of recently-drafted Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner shined in 10 games with the Magic last season. It was a small sample size, but Wagner averaged 11 points and shot 37% from deep. In six games to start the month of May, Wagner scored in double figures five times and hit the 20-point mark twice. That included a season-high 24 points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on May 1.

Chris Webber, F/C*

How Acquired: Drafted first in 1993 NBA Draft (traded to Golden State Warriors)

Tenure with Magic: N/A

Magic Stats: N/A

Overview: The final name on the list also gets an asterisk. Chris Webber was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1993, but traded to the Golden State Warriors on draft night. Webber would go on to win NBA Rookie of the Year and have a Hall of Fame career, but in the short term, the trade worked out. Orlando acquired guard Anfernee Hardaway, who became a perennial All-Star and helped the Magic reach the playoffs in each of his first four seasons.