The Orlando Magic are certainly not having the year that anybody was hoping for. They have the second-worst record in the NBA, sitting at 5-25 on the season. There are many things wrong with the Magic as they simply just don’t have the talent to compete in this league.
Last season they decided to trade away all of their key pieces at the NBA Trade Deadline, this year, they might look to trade some guys as well, but it will be a little different. They have young talent now so there would be no reason for them to trade a guy like Cole Anthony or Mo Bamba because they are going to be the future of this team.
In order for them to get into the proper rebuild situation, there’s a good chance that they are going to trade away a few of their players at the deadline because some of them can go to contending teams and make an impact, whether that be off the bench, or as a starter. At this point, they need all the draft picks and young talent that they can get.
Let’s take a look at three guys the Magic should think about trading.
Magic NBA Trade Deadline
3. Robin Lopez
Robin Lopez isn’t going to go to most teams and be the starting center. What he can offer a contending team is something that they are going to be looking for. Backup big man who could defend at a high level and also rebound at a high level are always sought after and that’s exactly what Robin Lopez can do. Expect teams to be on the phone looking to get him because there are plenty of teams who need big man help. Whether that be a backup center for a team like the Chicago Bulls or him reuniting with his former Milwaukee Buck team.
Lopez should be able to get back a second round draft pick and possibly a below to lower average young player who the Magic could potentially develop to become serviceable in this league. It wouldn’t make much sense for the Magic to keep Lopez around because Mo Bamba is going to be the center of the future for this team. Although Lopez can come in and help this team out, there’s really no point of him when you can get a draft pick back in return.
2. Terrence Ross
Terrence Ross was the perfect guy for this Magic team because he could have been a veteran who can score at a high level while also showing the ropes to some of the young guys. Unfortunately, he’s having one of the worst years of his career but that could be because of the situation that he is in.
There are plenty of teams who need a legit scoring option off the bench so expect teams to be active on Terrence Ross at the trade deadline. He could potentially get back a first-round pick but the chances are he would get multiple seconds. If he can do what he has done for most of his career up until this season on a different team, he’s going to be one of the steals of the deadline because he is a player who can drop 15-plus points per night off the bench. Whenever a contending team can get somebody that could play 12 to 15 minutes a night in the playoffs with serviceable minutes, they’re always going to look to get them.
1. Gary Harris
Unfortunately, Gary Harris has not played anywhere near the Magic were hoping for. He is arguably on one of the worst contracts in the NBA and it’ll certainly be tough to move at the deadline. Since his contract is expiring, there is no reason for the Magic to keep him around. His contract will be tough to move at the deadline but every contract is movable, Orlando just needs to find the right situation. Although he isn’t old, he isn’t exactly a part of this team’s future and there are certainly players that they can upgrade him with whether that be through a trade or from the draft. It would be shocking to see the Magic keep him around and that’s mostly because he has not been playing well the past few seasons.
The Magic are going to have a lot to do at the trade deadline. There was a chance that a guy like Mo Bamba could have been traded before the season started at the deadline, but with his play as of late, it would make no sense from the teams’ standpoint.
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