Terrence Ross, 30, is a proven commodity on a rebuilding Orlando Magic team. Under first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley, the franchise has a plethora of players on rookie deals or ones who are only a handful of seasons into their NBA career. Ross, in thought, is taking away playing time from some of the team's younger players.
The University of Washington product is in his prime and has been a reliable and consistent scorer over his Magic career. Over his four full seasons in Orlando, Ross has averaged 14.4 points per game while shooting a respectable 35.9 percent from beyond the arc as a primary reserve.
In reference to Ross' future with the Magic, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto was told “he'll be moved.” Furthermore, he was nearly moved at the 2021 NBA Draft, as there were reports that the Magic and New York Knicks discussed a potential trade. Nonetheless, the veteran wing, who's in the third season of a four-year, $54 million pact, is a prime candidate to be dealt before the NBA trade deadline.
Here are three ideal midseason trade destinations for Terrence Ross.
Terrence Ross trade destinations
3) New Orleans Pelicans
Trade proposal
Pelicans receive: Terrence Ross
Magic receive: Tomas Satoransky, Cleveland Cavaliers' 2022 second-round draft pick and Sacramento Kings' 2022 second-round draft pick
With or without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are trying to crack the Western Conference playoffs this season. Acquiring Terrence Ross would be an attempt to put their team over the top, adding another scorer.
As is, the Pelicans have a boatload of compelling players who can score but again: they haven't yet made the playoffs with this nucleus. Head coach Willie Green is shuffling a lot of ball-handlers and young guards including Devonte' Graham, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Kira Lewis Jr. Coming off the bench, Ross would complement the team's developing guards being a capable ball-handler himself, as well as someone adept at scoring off the dribble.
If Ross plays his way onto the floor at the end of games, it makes the Pelicans' offense that much more dangerous. A healthy five-man unit of Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Ross, and Graham would include five players who are proven scorers and get their points on different parts of the floor. Ross adds an esteemed veteran to benefit from the attention his teammates attract.
Ross is an offensive upgrade over Satoransky, and the Pelicans can afford to move the second-rounders given their trove of youth and several first-round selections on the horizon. What could prevent this trade from taking place is the Magic preferring to receive a young player, as they would likely look to flip Satoransky for more draft selections.
2) Dallas Mavericks
Trade proposal
Mavericks receive: Terrence Ross
Magic receive: Dwight Powell, Mavericks' 2022 second-round draft pick and Mavericks' 2025 first-round draft pick
The Mavericks are a high-octane scoring team but also a team that's trying to break through and become a legitimate contender in the West. If Dallas gets the opportunity to acquire Ross, they should pounce.
For starters, the Mavericks didn't make a substantial move to enhance their offense or take attention off Luka Doncic in the offseason; Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown were brought in to stick shots from the perimeter. Ross is another player who can create his own shot, which the Mavericks can't have enough of in the midst of the continuing Kristaps Porzingis enigma.
Ross isn't a player who's going to merely stand out on the perimeter. He can attack the rack and score off the dribble while also having the ability to drain shots from distance. A five-man unit at the end of games that comes from the combination of Doncic, Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Brunson, Ross and Bullock is one with offensive versatility that can overwhelm opposing defenses.
Dallas has the interior depth to move on from Powell, and surrendering the future first-rounder is justified by their title quest. All that said, the factor that could derail this transaction is the Magic potentially not getting back players who would be part of their rotation past this season.
1) Boston Celtics
Trade proposal
Celtics receive: Terrence Ross
Magic receive: Romeo Langford and Celtics' 2024 first-round draft pick
The Celtics are a funky bunch with the talent to contend, but they have been too inconsistent over the last year to do as such. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a potent one-two scoring punch, and head coach Ime Udoka needs players to produce alongside them. Terrence Ross fits the bill.
Serving as a secondary option, Ross would be able to score efficiently given the attention defenses devote to Tatum and Brown. Ross could play in isolation and/or get easy buckets roaming around the baseline. Another option for Udoka is bringing Ross off the bench, where he'd co-run the second unit with Dennis Schroder while also being on the court with Grant Williams and Josh Richardson. This would be a fiery and highly productive second unit with a grouping of plug-and-play individuals.
Every team needs depth. Ross provides the Celtics with such while also serving as a player who should smoothly transition into their rotation, as he's already accustomed to coming off the bench despite being a starting-caliber player.
As for what Boston sends to Orlando, Langford has never been given the playing time to become a rotation fixture. A former lottery selection, Langford could get more run on the Magic while the front office corrals a future pick that could be used for a trade down the road.
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