There was no team more active than the Orlando Magic at the NBA trade deadline. They made 3 blockbuster trades sending out their 3 best healthy players (Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier) which landed them young players and draft picks. The Magic were 15-29 at the time of the deadline and after back to back playoff appearances, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman had decided that this roster had run its course. All-Star center Nikola Vucevic was sent with Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter, and 2 first round picks. They sent Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark to the Denver Nuggets for R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, and a 2025 first round pick. Finally, Weltman sent Evan Fournier to the Boston Celtics for 2 second round picks and Jeff Teague, who was waived by the team. After making the playoffs the past two seasons, the Orlando Magic are starting a full rebuild and they have young talent and draft picks to do it.
Let’s start by looking at the veteran talent on the roster, expiring veterans like Otto Porter, James Ennis, Michael Carter-Williams and, head coach Steve Clifford’s favorite player, Khem Birch all look like guys who Orlando is unlikely to resign but it is always a possibility, as they have all been productive players during their career. Terrence Ross and Gary Harris both have at least one year left on their contract, with Ross having two seasons left at $12.5 million and $11.5 million. Harris has very little value around the league so I expect him to be on the 2021-22 opening day roster, as he is due to make $20 million next season. Ross has value, though I am not sure about how much, Orlando tried to trade him at the deadline but could not get any takers at a price they were comfortable with. After being traded for Serge Ibaka at the 2017 trade deadline from the Toronto Raptors, Ross has had a very nice career in Orlando averaging 14.2 points on 41% shooting and 36% from 3 point range in 234 games with most coming off the bench. He is a guy who can provide a 3 and D player off your bench, something every team always wants and needs. Finally, Chassen Randle is a 28-year-old guard on a two-way contract, one that could be converted to a standard contract. He is a journeyman who has played in many different countries. He can be a good backup point guard who can eat minutes for Orlando.
There is plenty of youth on the Magic roster as well. Let’s start by looking at the new guys, Wendell Carter Jr. and R.J. Hampton. Hampton is a 20-year-old guard who has shown flashes in his rookie season with the Nuggets and scored double figures for the first time in his young career Sunday in his Magic debut against the Lakers. Carter is a player who has flashed his atheism at the center position at times but has been up and down since entering the league out of Duke. Drafted 7th overall by the Bulls back in 2018, Carter has started every game of his career until this month when the Bulls decided to bring him off the bench. He is extension eligible this summer so this is a chance for the Magic to get a look at what they have, they can also take the more likely route and let Carter play out next season and hit restricted free agency in 2022.
The Magic have a bunch of young player with some I am higher on than others. One player I am high on is Jonathan Issac, who looked like a defensive player of the year candidate before he tore his ACL in the bubble. Issac is a player Orlando has in their future plans as they gave in a $100 million extension last December and is a key part of what Orlando is building. He should be back at full strength for the 2021-22 season and a key part of their team.
Markelle Flutz was the number 1 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. He is a guy who the Magic acquired at the 2019 trade deadline. It has been an up and down career for Fultz as the Philadelphia 76ers pulled the plug just a year and a half into Fultz’s career. However, the Magic really believe in Markelle, as they gave him a 3-year contract extension worth up-to $50 million this past offseason before he tore his ACL in January. Fultz is not a volume scorer and has had trouble shooting the ball his entire career as he is just a 26% career 3 point shooter. He is better at driving to the basket and kicking out to shooters. The jury is still out on Markelle Fultz, but I have hope the 22-year-old guard can figure it out and be a solid NBA player for many years.
Mo Bamba is a tantalizing player, who has had an up and down career since the Magic drafted him 6th overall in 2018, one pick ahead of Carter. When Bamba came to the NBA out of Texas, he was projected to be a big star at the center position. An elite shot blocker who could stretch the floor and roll to the rim. Bamba has not lived up to the billing. Some of this may have had to do with the emergence of Nikola Vucevic, who has become a 2 time All-Star since Mo was drafted. However, Bamba just seems like he's lost on the court. He has started just one game during his career and has averaged 5.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. His career average for minutes played per game is just 14.3 and I believe one of the things Bamba needs is a fresh start and I think Orlando should give him that, the same way Philadelphia gave Fultz the opportunity.
I am a big Chuma Okeke fan. He was really good when he played at Auburn and has looked awesome recently coming off of the torn ACL he had at the end of his college career and led to him missing last season. He struggled to find his footing early but over their last 3 games Okeke has given Orlando 16.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 68% from the field and 72% from 3 point range. No I do not think the percentages will last, but Okeke has shown that he can be a legit option for Orlando as they move forward.
With their first round pick this year the Magic drafted point guard Cole Anthony. He is dealing with a rib injury that has kept him out for an extended period of time but before the injury, he was having a shaky rookie year for the Magic averaging 11 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on 37% shooting and 32% from behind the arc. He did hit a buzzer beater to beat the Timberwolves early in the season so that’s cool. Point guard is just a very loaded position for the Magic, with Fultz and now Hampton, even though Hampton is more of a 2-guard right now, and with a high draft pick potentially coming in, Anthony may not fit in their future plans.
The Magic will hope to have a top 5 pick in this draft. With guys like Cade Cunnimgham, Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, and Jonathan Kuminga being at the top of this loaded draft, Orlando will hope to land one of those players as it seems there is a drop off at pick number 6. The Magic have some talented youngsters, a bunch of future draft picks, and a chance to exchange more players into more draft picks or different players. The Orlando Magic knew at some point the tear down was coming, so when injuries hit, they decided to pull the trigger on the tear down in the middle of a lost season. Also, shoutout to Dwayne Bacon, who had a career high 26 points against the Lakers on Sunday night.
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