Orlando Magic Daily
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Five trade deadline targets for the Orlando Magic

By Ricky Scricca

Dec 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives as Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives as Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors, James Harden, Houston Rockets
Nov 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Terrence Ross

If Zach LaVine is indeed off the table, Terrence Ross could offer the Magic a similar set of skills and athleticism.

In fact, Ross might be an even better shooter than LaVine for Orlando’s purposes. Even though LaVine’s raw 3-point percentage is better than Ross’ percentage. Ross is more effective off screens and spotting up than LaVine is.

That is very important for the Magic because it makes him easier to plug directly into the offensive sets Frank Vogel already likes to run.

Although not quite as jaw-droppingly athletic as LaVine, Ross can still run downcourt and throw down transition dunks as well as anyone else in the league.

He is also a much more realistic target. The Toronto Raptors are very serious about challenging the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, and they know they will have to make moves for a defensively sound power forward before the deadline to do so.

With Paul Millsap off the market, that leaves Serge Ibaka as a prime target.

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With Ibaka on an expiring contract, the Magic would do well to get some valuable pieces in return for him instead of letting him leave in free agency. It does not take much speculation to figure out what this return might be, because the Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder nearly agreed to a trade for Ibaka last offseason too.

It was so substantial the Raptors ended up balking — Norman Powell, Cory Joseph, Patrick Patterson, and the number nine overall pick in exchange for Ibaka alone.

If the Raptors and Magic make a trade, it obviously would not be of that magnitude. But Ross alongside Patrick Patterson or DeMarre Carroll for Ibaka would help both teams fix their weaknesses without creating any new weaknesses on either side.

The pieces exchanged would fit seamlessly into their new teams and help both ramp up their playoff efforts.