Orlando Magic Rumors: Orlando Magic expressed interest in Reggie Jackson
The Orlando Magic made their first deal with Serge Ibaka. They are likely to continue surveying interest and reportedly expressed interest in Reggie Jackson.
Clearly, something remains amiss about the Orlando Magic as it enters the trade deadline and All-Star Break at 21-37. The season has not gone according to plan at all. And the Magic still have those lingering goals of trying to make the Playoffs sooner rather than later — no matter how far-fetched that notion might realistically be.
It is unclear what the next step for the Orlando Magic will be. With a week to go before the trade deadline, the Magic can still be pretty active and get things done. Or they could wait and see what comes around at the draft or later to remake the roster.
Orlando has something of a luxury — except with the expiring contract for Jeff Green — of being able to survey the market and make a deal now or at the draft or later. Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton will still be there.
Expect the Magic to continue exploring possible deals leading up to next week’s trade deadline. Certainly, some of the other discussions the team had before dealing Serge Ibaka will leak or perhaps the Magic will see if they can explore other ways to get those negotiations done.
It is no surprise to hear the Magic are still sniffing around for a point guard or another potential young player to keep the team growing.
Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reports the Magic were one of the teams pushing to acquire Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson.
"Any Drummond deal at the deadline is an extreme long shot, but Jackson remains in play for Minnesota, Orlando, New Orleans, or some mystery destination. Even if Detroit keeps him, missing the playoffs would put dramatic changes on the table this summer.The Orlando Magic tipped their first domino on what could be another remaking of their roster this week in trading Serge Ibaka.. . .The Pistons could target a distressed young point guard like Elfrid Payton or Emmanuel Mudiay, and snag a rental wing to make up the salary gap. Mudiay is available, per several league sources, though it appears Denver has no interest in Jackson. Orlando remains an intriguing fit; Rob Hennigan, the Magic GM, was part of the Thunder front office that drafted Jackson, and the team is starting freaking C.J. Watson over Payton."
The Pistons, as Lowe notes in detail in his post, are in a weird spot right now.
Last year, Jackson was a devastating pick and roll point guard, driving into the lane with his speed, scoring well on pull ups, lobbing it to Andre Drummond and dishing it out to the perimeter. He averaged 18.8 points per game and 6.2 assists per game in his first full season with Detroit last year.
The Pistons snuck into the Playoffs last year and seemed poised to take a big step up. Detroit signed him to a five-year, $80 million contract and it seemed like he was well rewarding the team.
But Jackson needed knee surgery early in the season and has been slow to get back to form. He is averaging 15.2 points per game 5.6 assists per game. He can still clearly produce. But the Pistons are struggling all over the place. Detroit is fighting to stay in the Playoff picture and have not taken that step forward.
It does seem the Pistons are more open to making a deal involving some key players — maybe Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris are also on the market — to try to fix whatever is ailing the team.
Orlando Magic
As Lowe details, Jackson received a lot of criticism in a players-only meeting earlier in the season. He has struggled to find his fit since then as the Pistons figure themselves out.
That brings about the potential for trade rumors.
Elfrid Payton has been inconsistent too this year. The sense and rumors around the league are the Magic could be in the market for a replacement point guard. Jackson is certainly a better player. But there are also some good point guards available at the top of this draft.
Finding a deal between the Magic and Pistons directly is tough. Jeff Green, Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja may be a start. But that is still a lot to give up.
It is all speculation at this point. And perhaps the interest leaked after it had waned. That does tend to happen. The Serge Ibaka deal may have taken a chess piece off the board for a potential major deal.
Next: Grading the Terrence Ross-Serge Ibaka deal
Orlando has started remaking its roster again. The Magic may not do anything else before the trade deadline. Then again, a lot can change in the next week.