“Lakers Coach Byron Scott talks to the crowd before the tipoff. The Lakers played the Houston Rockets in the opening game of the 2014-2015 Season. Los Angeles, CA. 10/28/2014 (Photo by John McCoy Daily News )”

ORLANDO — Lakers coach Byron Scott sat comfortably on a chair alongside Amway Center, entertaining questions on the horizon surrounding free agency and how that could bolster the franchise.

But a key part of the rebuilding process could play out when the Lakers (13-36) visit the Orlando Magic (15-37) on Friday at Amway Center. In what otherwise serves as a forgettable game for two teams destined to miss the playoffs, the outcome could play a big part in determining the Lakers’ standing in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Lakers have the league’s fourth-worst record, but they need a top-five pick to avoid trading their draft selection to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Steve Nash deal. The Magic have the fifth worst record and just fired off coach Jacque Vaughn amid a 10-game losing streak.

“I never look at bottoming out. I never look at losing. It’s a bad omen that you try to send a message to lose games to get the very best pick you can get. You still try to go out there and win basketball games, ” Scott said on Friday at morning shootaround at Amway Center. “If you’re not good enough that particular night, then you lose, so be it. To go out there and deliberately try to lose games to get a better pick, that backfires on you.”

The Lakers currently have a 11.9 percent chance at the first overall pick, but those odds increase for the NBA’s third-worst team (15.6 percent), second-worst team (19.5 percent) and worst team (25 percent). But instead of worrying about those odds, Scott told his players to consider it “a slap in the face” the Magic fired Vaughn and named assistant James Borrego as the interim coach.a day before playing the Lakers.

“If I’m in management, I’m looking at the schedule,” Scott said. “They feel they have a great chance to win this game and get their new coach off to a good start.”

Scott could speak from experience. He has been fired from all three of his coaching stops with the former New Jersey Nets (2000-04), New Orleans Hornets (2004-2009) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2010-2013). Meanwhile, the Lakers destined to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season and on pace to finish with their worst season in L.A. franchise history. Yet, Scott maintains he feels on solid footing as the Lakers’ front office has universally supported him.

Before signing a four-year, $17 million deal this offseason to coach the Lakers, Scott reported that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss gave him assurances they would grant him the time to go through a full rebuild.

“They told me, ‘It would take a few years. Are you okay with that?’ My question to them was, ‘I’m okay with that. Are you okay with that?'” Scott said. “That’s the biggest point. I’m okay with it because I know in due time we can turn it around.”

Scott reported he initially thought the Lakers would “be competitive” and that they could “surprise some people” before experiencing season-ending injuries to Kobe Bryant (right shoulder), Steve Nash (back), Julius Randle (right leg) and Xavier Henry (left Achilles tendon). But well before the 2014-15 season started, Scott boasted about how he would talk to his team about striving to win an NBA championship.

Even if that goal seemed unrealistic, Scott believed he needed to express those views both to inspire confidence in his team and clearly outline expectations.

“It let them know this is what this organization is all about,” Scott said. “It’s all about winning championships. It’s not about mediocrity. It’s not about moral victories. It’s about winning championships. We know we’re going to go through some hard times. But through that process, we still have to develop that championship mentality.”

How long will it take for the Lakers to reach championship contention?

Scott conceded, “I don’t have a timetable.” He also senses that the Lakers may need to brace for “patience” next season. After all, Bryant will return for his 20th NBA season after experiencing three major injuries in consecutive seasons. Although only Bryant, Randle, Nick Young and Ryan Kelly are the only players left with guaranteed contracts, it remains to be seen whether the Lakers’ purchasing power could land a marquee free agent, such as Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Goran Dragic or Rajon Rondo.

“This summer will give us an indication on if we’ll turn it around a lot quicker than we even expect,” Scott said. “I’m not sitting there and saying we have to turn it around this year or the year after. I’m sitting and saying ‘Let’s wait until this summer and see what happens.'”

Until then, Scott maintains he will still coach both to win games and develop the rest of his roster. Even if it comes at the expense of a top draft pick.

“Every game we prepare to go out and play and have in mind that if take care of a few things, we have an opportunity to win the game,” Scott said. “I’m proud of the way we’ve been playing and how hard we’ve played. We’ve been in pretty every game. We give ourselves a chance and that’s all we’re willing to ask for.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com