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At last, we can scratch that 7-year itch: Iowa's run of not having a player selected in the NBA Draft is finally over. The Denver Nuggets selected Roy Devyn Marble with the 56th pick of the second round. The Nuggets immediately traded Marble to the Orlando Magic.
With the No. 56 pick in the 2014 #NBADraft, the @denvernuggets select Roy Devyn Marble (will be traded to Magic). pic.twitter.com/LtMNHGNNul
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 27, 2014
Earlier in the draft, the Magic selected big man Aaron Gordon (Arizona) and Croatian big man Dario Saric. They then traded Saric to the Sixers for PG Elfrid Payton (Louisiana-Lafayette).
In addition to Payton, Marble joins a back court in Orlando that currently includes Doron Lamb, E'Twaun Moore, Jameer Nelson, Victor Oladipo, and Ronnie Price. (Arron Affalo was Orlando's best guard in the 2013-14, but he's expected to be traded to the Denver Nuggets.) Afflalo, Oladipo, Nelson, Moore, and Lamb played the majority of the Magic's backcourt minutes, with Moore and Lamb primarily coming off the bench. Moore and Lamb figure to be the guys that Marble will be most directly competing with in terms of playing time and a roster spot. If nothing else, there's a definite #B1G feel to the Magic's backcourt, with Moore joining Oladipo (Indiana) and Moore (Purdue). As a late second round draft pick, Marble's next step is likely to be the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where a good showing would bolster his efforts to make the Magic roster.
@DMarble4 He came when Iowa had won 10 games, and left as an NBA Draft pick. A lot of growth for player and program.
— Rick Brown (@ByRickBrown) June 27, 2014
Congratulations on getting a chance to live your dream, Dev, and best of luck in the NBA.