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Orlando Magic trade rumors and possibilities: Wings edition

By Ricky Scricca

Jan 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts after dunking the ball in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts after dunking the ball in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic, Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors
Feb 23, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) tries to get by Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Orlando 105-90. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Terrence Ross

The Toronto Raptors are searching for a stronger defensive presence at the 4 spot, and Serge Ibaka has been an object of their desire for quite some time now. Terrence Ross has been mentioned in trade rumors surrounding the Raptors and his lights-out 3-point shooting would be a huge help for the Magic.

So far, Terrence Ross has been having something of a career year. He is a mere 1.4 percentage points short in free throw percentage of a 50-40-90 campaign, a stat line only a handful of players in history have accomplished.

To reach those marks, he has done a better job of driving the lane, attacking the rim and spotting up for threes than he ever has before.

The Magic would certainly love to pair a player with such a powerful combination of shooting efficiency and athleticism alongside Aaron Gordon, whether it would be at the 2 and 3 or at the 3 and 4.

This past offseason, Toronto reportedly stopped short of offering the Oklahoma City Thunder Patrick Patterson, Cory Joseph, Norman Powell, and their No. 9 overall pick for Serge Ibaka because Ratpors general manager Masai Ujiri felt it would significantly weaken the team’s bench.

Their loss became the Magic’s gain, so to speak.

But as Ibaka’s trade value decreases throughout the season (the more time passes ,the less time the Raptors would be guaranteed to have him because his contract is up at the end of the year) and the Magic become more desperate for dependable and versatile offense, the Raptors may find themselves able to swing a deal to acquire this coveted player without sacrificing much. Certainly not as much as they would have on Draft night.

Look for Paul Millsap to be Toronto’s priority in their trade pursuits, but because of Ujiri’s hesitant and frugal nature when it comes to trades, it would not come as a surprise if the two cannot strike a deal. The Atlanta Hawks may end up looking for more than Ujiri is willing to offer, so that’s where the Magic would come in.

If the Raptors’ goal is to challenge the Cavaliers in 2017 and the Magic’s is to make the playoffs in 2017, this trade may end up being necessary on both ends.