The Orlando Magic is going into this season ready to tank once again. The Magic does not have a roster worth putting up a battle for the postseason. Additionally, injury issues will slow their further development again. Markelle Fultz is out likely for the first part of the season, while Jonathan Isaac will need time to fully recover. They are the best parts of this roster and without them, the Magic is a candidate for rock bottom. However, there are some trade candidates that can give the Magic a lifeline for the upcoming season.
The Magic have a lot of solid prospects on their roster. They just selected Jalen Suggs as the shooting guard of the future and he will be joined by Cole Anthony in the backcourt. Gary Harris is also there and he will get valuable minutes, as a backup to Suggs. Terrence Ross is still there as a starting-level small forward and the frontcourt has some good pieces. Mo Bamba might finally have a breakout season and the same is expected from Wendell Carter Jr.
Still, there are two names, as potential trade candidates, that the Magic should invest some resources in – Obi Toppin and Gordon Hayward.
Magic trade candidates
Obi Toppin
This would be more of a move for the future for the Magic. Toppin was the 8th selection in the 2020 NBA Draft but does not have the space to develop in the New York Knicks. With Julius Randle playing like a star and Taj Gibson supporting him, Toppin simply cannot develop in the proper way. He deserves more than 11 minutes per game and the Magic can deliver on that.
Since Randle is young, the Knicks probably would not think twice about an Obi Toppin trade. The Magic can give them some rotation pieces in the vein of Gary Harris, which would be beneficial for the state the Knicks are currently in. In Toppin, the Magic would get a valuable rotation piece in the power forward position, where the depth is seriously lacking. Currently, their projected starter is sophomore Chuma Okeke. This is, of course, taking into consideration that Isaac is still out.
While Okeke has potential, Toppin has more and even though he did not have the greatest year, he has room to grow. He would bring a ton of athleticism, strength, and offensive presence inside. With the squad as is, the only constant scorer in the paint is Carter Jr. With Toppin, they would have another.
Toppin has issues, obviously. He is a very poor defender and does not have much range in the attack. However, if the Magic have anything, it is time. If he can develop with more minutes, then for a fairly low price, the Magic might get a diamond in the rough. If the risk does not pay off, he can always be offloaded or his team options not picked up.
Gordon Hayward
This is a fairly simple one – the Magic need serious, NBA talent. Especially with Fultz and Isaac out, the Magic do not have enough players that would be in the rotation for most NBA teams. Of course, they have some good prospects who could develop in the future, but for the now, they do not have much.
It is true that Hayward brings his monster contract as well, but that does not mean that he is a poor player. He would be given the reigns of the offense, something he had in his best days in the Utah Jazz. The Magic would have the potential to join into the playoff battle with Hayward if the injuries to Fultz and Isaac do not affect them long-term.
It is questionable whether the Hornets, who seemingly value Hayward, will let him go. However, due to the youth in their roster, they would most likely consider getting Hayward off the books for some picks and prospects. The Magic might lose one or two potentially good players, but Hayward is a sure thing and will get them where the franchise seemingly wants to go, which is the playoffs.
His injury issues might be a problem, but as it was said above, the Magic have time. Fultz, Isaac, Suggs, and Cole Anthony will all be either healthy, better, or both in the seasons to come. With Hayward and Ross as veterans, this Magic squad could be a potential landmine in the ever-volatile Eastern Conference.
Without these or any trades, the Magic will simply go for the highest pick possible in the lottery. This will be a development year for Suggs, Bamba, and Carter Jr and a recovery season for Fultz and Isaac. However, with smart moves, they can either strengthen their immediate chances for playoffs or get even younger and build a better future. It remains to be seen which route will the front office take in the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe