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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: It is trading season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 24, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) points after he makes a three pointer during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) points after he makes a three pointer during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic
Jan 24, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) points after he makes a three pointer during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic are prepared to make a move this trade deadline to improve their roster. The Orlando Magic Daily staff got together to propose their deals.

The Orlando Magic have gone out West and come home. They have struggled in those home games to gain much traction. The Philadelphia 76ers, of all teams, are breathing down their neck now, if not outright passing the Magic on percentage points.

Orlando is sinking fast in the Playoff race and there is a general anxiousness about what to do next.

The first step is the Feb. 23 trade deadline. Yes, the calendar has turned toward trade deadline month now. The pressure is ramping up.

Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan gave interviews to the Orlando Sentinel, OrlandoMagic.com, ESPN Orlando and 740 The Team to give fans a midseason update and insight into what comes next. In every interview he repeated the cliche — and he admitted it is a cliche — that the team will be active.

All the while, he admitted he and everyone within the organization are frustrated and confused with some of the Magic’s struggles throughout the season so far. The team will be exploring some external additions. and, as Hennigan said in his interview with Scott Anez of ESPN Orlando, he has no intention of mortgaging the team’s future just to sneak into the Playoffs in 2017 or resuscitate this specific season.

The Magic are going to have to explore at least some trade options to set the team up for the 2018 season and whatever it may look like. They have some players who could certainly net some assets.

Serge Ibaka still has value around the league and could be a good rental for a team fighting for the Playoffs or more. Nikola Vucevic is still a walking double double on a team-friendly contract. Jodie Meeks, Jeff Green and C.J. Watson are also on expiring deals for teams looking to shed salary.

There are assets to move. But what will the Magic do? What are they even looking for?

that is the part that is a little harder to figure out. Considering how much of a struggle this season has been for the Magic, nothing should be completely off the table. At least, for now.

Nobody knows what direction the Magic will go, but everyone anticipates the Magic will make a move. And likely a big one to set up the next few years for this franchise.

With a month before the trade deadline, Orlando Magic Daily is getting proactive. In this week’s roundtable, our staff members proposed the realistic deals they would like to see the Magic make ahead of this trade deadline.

A quick note (listen up, fake news sites): These are merely suggestions from our staff. We have no inside information that any of these are really being discussed or are actually pursued. Feel free to comment on the deals in the comment section below.