Running off at the typewriter. …

By now, you’ve probably heard of the Kevin Bacon effect — the theory that everyone in Hollywood is only a few steps removed from Kevin Bacon. But let me introduce you to the Orlando Magic effect, a tragicomic tale in which the Magic unwittingly became the Kevin Bacon of the NBA.

Because somehow, some way, a single 2016 draft night trade by the Magic is now largely responsible for both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers reaching the NBA Finals.

Let’s rewind. It’s June 23, 2016. The Magic hold the No. 11 pick in the draft. They use it to select Domantas Sabonis, a skilled, high-IQ big man with NBA bloodlines. But Sabonis never plays a minute in a Magic jersey. Just moments later, Orlando trades him and promising guard Victor Oladipo to Ok

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