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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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Dec 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) handles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) handles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Goran Dragic

The tanking Miami Heat have been the subject of quite a few trade rumors already. And point guard Goran Dragic is right in the middle of them.

If the Magic are indeed trying to win now, Elfrid Payton might not be the point guard for them especially if the team’s lack of shooting continues to hamper his ability to drive inside.

Dragic would give the Magic a solid, established ball-handler who can run the pick and roll and knock down threes at a respectable clip, which is more than can be said about Payton at this point in his career.

On the flipside, Dragic is something of a defensive liability whereas Payton has shown lots of promise on that end of the floor for a lot less money.

Dragic is currently two years into a five-year, $50-million deal with the Heat. That is quite a bit more than Payton’s current four-year, $11-million deal.

To acquire Dragic, Orlando would have to give up at least two or three key players just to match salaries. Even if they put together a package that would work money-wise, the rebuilding Heat probably want picks thrown in as well.

While he is undoubtedly a solid, above-average point guard and would probably be an upgrade for the Magic, any deal which the Heat would agree for Dragic would likely hurt the Magic more than it would help, both in the short and long run.

Not to mention, the Magic’s problems go much deeper than ball-handling and scoring from the point guard position.

If they are to make a major deal before the deadline to make a playoff push, they should go after a player who can offer either a serious, high-octane scoring punch that fits the team’s offense or who can offer production on both ends of the floor.

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Putting Dragic in a Magic uniform would not make them a playoff contender and it would lock up serious money for the next couple of seasons.