Orlando Magic Rumors: Orlando Magic intend to seek scoring in trade market
The NBA’s trade market will fully open in December. The Orlando Sentinel reports the Orlando Magic will be actively seeking some scoring.
The Orlando Magic have had an up-and-down season to get to 9-12. Things do seem to be heading in the right direction finally for the team as they have clinched a winning road trip.
The Magic appear to have found a defensive identity, but this team still has some clear holes. Frank Vogel has found a temporary way to make the pieces fit together. The team has scored some impressive victories and the Magic now have the third best defense in the league by defensive rating.
Those inherent problems with the roster are still apparent, though. Orlando’s offense is rising toward the league average. But even in this strong stretch of play the last week, the Magic’s offense is in the bottom 10.
And the flaws in this roster are still apparent. A team does not just blow a 14-point lead like the Magic did without some inherent flaw. The Magic’s offense is still a big concern.
With NBA contracts signed in the offseason eligible for trade in just 10 days — Dec. 15 — the Magic will certainly be among the teams active in the trade market.
According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic will be actively seeking some scoring when the trade market fully opens:
"The Orlando Magic will sift through the trade market in an effort to add a scorer, a league source with knowledge of the situation told the Orlando Sentinel."
Orlando currently ranks 29th in offensive rating, scoring 96.8 points per 100 possessions. They rank last in effective field goal percentage at 46.8 percent. Pace plays a small part, but the Magic have scored 100 points just five times in 20 games.
The Magic lack a true go-to threat and have struggled to generate consistent offense all year.
Things are looking up lately offensively, even if it is just a minor improvement.
The Magic clearly do not need much to win games with the way they are playing defense. But the goals are larger than just winning an individual game. Orlando needs something that will work long term and get them into the Playoffs.
That remains the biggest goal. And a trade could be the avenue to ensure the team achieves that goal.
Orlando is seeking some offense, whether it is more shooting or finding a better playmaker and shot creator. The trade market is still not defined.
The trade market is still not defined. Too many teams are still int he Playoff hunt and everyone will be looking to get better.
Orlando may not have had time to evaluate their assets properly. But the team should have plenty of options should it opt to make a deal.
Serge Ibaka, Jeff Green, Jodie Meeks and C.J. Wilcox are all on expiring deals. C.J. Watson‘s final year to his contract for next year is also not guaranteed. Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja are still on rookie deals. And Nikola Vucevic‘s contracts is still very team friendly and affordable.
These assets will come in handy when the Magic get to trade talks.
That may still be far away. Orlando should and will look to improve its team. it certainly feels like the team needs to add something to the mix to further balance and improve the offense.
But things are not likely to happen quickly.
Next: Orlando Magic reaping benefits of newfound depth
The starting gun toward the NBA’s trade deadline in February will get fired soon with next week’s deadline passing. The Magic are sure to be active.