There have been plenty of rumors recently that Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans could be on the move this summer. It will be interesting to see how the Pelicans' situation unfolds, and many clubs will be interested. The Orlando Magic are one team that could be worth keeping an eye on in the Zion sweepstakes.
The Orlando Magic might not be interested in acquiring Zion Williamson at this moment because of the several draft picks they would have to give up, but if they were able to find a solid deal for him, it could be something they are interested in. Moe Wagner, who plays forward, and Mohamed Bamba, who plays center, are already on the team and playing well. Both of those players have put up strong performances this season, so keeping them would be in the Magics' best interests.
This might be a move that Orlando makes if they can avoid having to give up many draft picks and only have to deal with a couple of their younger players. In a few years, a squad with Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Frank Wagner, Moe Wagner, Mohamed Bamba, Markelle Fultz, and Zion Williamson may cause some problems for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Orlando would still not be a title contender because of their youth and how poor they've looked in recent years, but bringing in a star player like Zion might help them a lot if he can remain healthy.
Unfortunately for Zion, he's been injured for the past year, which has raised some eyebrows in the league. On the other hand, when healthy, the 21-year-old star has averaged 25.7 points and seven rebounds a game in his brief NBA career. He has only appeared in 85 games, but putting up those kinds of numbers at the ages of 19 and 20 is incredible.
It's unlikely that Zion will play with a team like the Orlando Magic, as he's said to desire to join a title contender. If there is going to be a trade, he doesn't have much to say with the final transaction, so Orlando is obviously a team that could jump on board and perhaps win the Zion sweepstakes.
Let's take a look at three reasons why Zion Williamson would be a good match for the Orlando Magic.
While this trade could be tough, some teams are going to overpay and due to the players’ salary, they will have to give back a big package. A trade for Zion to the Magic isn't likely, but teams are going to be doing everything they can to get better, which could cause some wild trades to be done, as we have seen in the past.
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3 Reasons Magic Must Trade For Zion Williamson This Offseason
3. Gives them another young player
The Orlando Magic have had a difficult season, but that was expected heading into the season. They are now 14-47 and have the NBA's worst record. Fortunately for the Magic, with Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Moe Wagner, Mohamed Bamba, RJ Hampton, and a few other guys who might potentially be terrific players in this league one day, they have reason to be optimistic about the team's future.
Adding Zion to this young core would be a huge boost, and it might help them become the team they want to be. Obviously, Orlando would have to give up a couple of these players as well as a few draft selections to complete the trade, but if they can keep the key players in place, it might be a deal they would consider.
2. Bring in a high-profile talent
Orlando hasn't had a star player in a long time, so bringing in a young kid like Zion, who is only 21 years old and has the potential to be one of the best players in the NBA, should pique Orlando fans' interest.
Even if there are some doubts about Zion Williamson, there's no disputing that when he's healthy and on the floor, he's a superstar. Hopefully, for Zion and the rest of the NBA, he will be able to get back on the court soon, because the league is much better when a superstar like him is on the court.
We must remember that, despite being injured for a big amount of his short career, he was still able to average 25.7 points per game and shoot over 60% from the field in his first two seasons in the NBA. Those aren't numbers that many players in the league, let alone a 21-year-old, can produce.
1. Possibility of reshaping the franchise
Because of the type of squad they have, the Orlando Magic are in an odd place right now. This organization doesn't appear to have a bright future unless they make a move, so bringing in someone like Zion might completely shift the team's outlook.
Orlando needs to do something to turn this organization around because the product they've been producing for the past few years are simply unacceptable. This was one of those franchises that were above-average in the NBA, and the last several years have not reflected the type of play that Orlando is known for.
