The Orlando Magic were the biggest movers during this year's trade deadline and their decision to buy into a rebuild was the right one. The Magic are 15-29, which has them sitting in 14th in the Eastern Conference. They were going nowhere with Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier on the roster, so they made the decision to trade them all. Adding to their asset pool was a move that made sense and they got a lot of value out of those players. What is next for the Magic? Can they complete their own version of the famous Philadelphia's ‘trust the process'?
The Roster
When the Philadelphia 76ers began the ‘process', they did not have the roster that the Magic already have. Philadelphia started with almost no young players, but Orlando has a collection of interesting young players as well as some other veteran assets they can trade.
Starting with the young players, the Magic have Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Chuma Okeke, and recent 15th overall pick Cole Anthony. Those are all solid players, but far from an elite young core. However, they added a couple interesting young pieces in the trades they made. Wendell Carter Jr. and RJ Hampton were both good editions to their core of young players.
Magic Add Assets At The Deadline
Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz both got extensions in the offseason that are set to kick in next year. Sadly, the two have missed almost all of this season with knee injuries. They are both still young and have potential as two-way players in the future. Okeke and Anthony are two players on the first year of their rookie deals and they've each had flashes throughout the season. Carter Jr. is a fascinating addition to this team because his defensive potential is through the roof. The 21-year-old has yet to fully live up to his potential, but he's flashed a high IQ and some switchability. When you add that potential to the elite defense that Isaac and Okeke have already displayed as well, it becomes a team with fascinating defensive prowess. Hampton is a solid upside bet and his athleticism and creation could make him a future All-Star.
The Magic still have a few veteran pieces that could be traded in the offseason for some more value. The most notable of which is Terrence Ross. Ross is an elite 3-point shooter and could add a different dynamic to any team interested in his services. James Ennis III, Gary Harris, and Michael Carter-Williams could also be assets that teams are interested in.
Draft Assets and This Year's Draft
The Magic are fortunate to have all of their own first-round picks going forward. They also added a 2021 and 2023 first-round pick in the trade of Vucevic to the Bulls. They also received a 2025 first-round pick from the Nuggets when they traded Aaron Gordon.
The Magic are bad this year, and that's really good for them. The top of this year's draft is full of talent and they should try and capitalize on that. If they get the number one pick, they can take generational superstar Cade Cunningham. If they end up drafting second or third, they could take Evan Mobley and add to their defensive capabilities or take the electric scorer Jalen Green. Other players like Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga, Keon Johnson, and maybe even Kai Jones could all be players on the Magic's radar next year, and they'd be ecstatic to have any of them.
Patience is Key
The key to any good rebuild is understanding that it's a process. A team that wants to win championships cannot be built overnight. Even teams like the Brooklyn Nets this year and the Miami Heat of the early 2010s had to build a winning culture first. The Magic are not the free-agent destination those teams are and they'll have to build through the draft and by acquiring assets.
The Magic have proven impatient before and chased the 8th seed. However, they will need to change those ways if they are to see this rebuild through. Philadelphia is the prime example of that patience, but they can even pay attention to how the Oklahoma City Thunder are structuring their rebuild as an ideal to strive towards. Orlando would do well to learn from those teams as they enter the next phase of their franchise.
The Ultimate Goal
NBA teams define their success in different ways depending on the goals of the owner. For some teams, the goal is profit margin and nothing else. The Magic have fallen into that boat for the majority of their existence as a franchise, but here, they have a chance to change that.
Orlando has been a somewhat irrelevant team for some time now, toiling in mediocrity as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. They have finally realized that to get better, they first need to get worse. There will be pain ahead, losing seasons, blowouts, and a struggle to fill up the Amway Center for home games.
The Magic will have to keep in mind that it's all for a greater purpose; winning a championship. Orlando will have to spend some time at the bottom if they ever wish to climb to the top. Thursday's trade deadline was just the first step on that journey.
Follow Us
Subscribe