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Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2017

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 22, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) and forward Aaron Gordon (00) talk against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) and forward Aaron Gordon (00) talk against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Hornets
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends a pass from Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Category II — Buyer’s Remorse

11. Mario Hezonja, $20 million/4 years, Team Option 2019, Qualifying Offer 2020

Mario Hezonja is the great hope for the Magic. Much of the talk about Hezonja is what everyone hopes Hezonja should be rather than what he is. The fifth overall pick carries with it a lot of weight. And it is tough to erase those expectations.

Hezonja’s season has been a rough one. The Magic had big expectations for him. Rob Hennigan has even publicly expressed disappointment in Hezonja’s season. There is still hope for his development.

Getting Hezonja on the court will be the first part to figure out what he can do and to try to increase his value. Before his recent addition to the rotation, it was questionable whether the Magic would even pick up his team option for the 2019 season.

Right now the Magic can only sell Hezonja on what he was supposed to be. What he is right now is inconsistent at best, raw in reality and a bust at worst. Hezonja is a nice throw in at the moment.

10. Bismack Biyombo, $68 million/4 years, Player Option 2020

The Magic were at Bismack Biyombo’s door at midnight on July 1 with Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton in tow. Even with Serge Ibaka on the roster already, Biyombo was one of the Magic’s key targets.

They figured a second rim protector would bolster their defense and turn them into a dominant defensive team. It gave them insurance when that inevitable Nikola Vucevic trade occurred. That never happened and the Magic went to the season with both centers competing for playing time.

What has been made worse is Biyombo has underperformed. The Magic did not expect him to contribute much on the offensive end, but his defense has been suspect. His rim protection is down from last year. Even his rebound rate is near career lows.

Other defensive metrics suggest he is still making an impact. But he did not pair well with Ibaka at all. The final defensive rating for lineups with Biyombo and Ibaka together was 112.2. That is not at all what the Magic had in mind.

And right now, the Magic are kind of stuck with Biyombo.

9. D.J. Augustin, $29 million/4 years

The Magic’s first big signing of the offseason was backup point guard D.J. Augustin. The Magic hoped to add some shooting off the bench and make him a solid backup point guard behind Elfrid Payton.

By this point in his career, everyone knows who Augustin is. He can score and shoot in a hurry. But his defense is suspect. If a team has to rely on him as a starter, then that team is probably going to be in trouble.

Augustin has started 20 of the 57 games he has played this season. Payton has struggled to stay in the starting lineup. And that has exposed Augustin’s weaknesses even more.

The Magic have to find a way to get Augustin to be the backup point guard again. Because it does not feel likely they will be able to move him unless he is needed for a larger salary.

Augustin can still be productive. And there will be some interest. But the Magic would have to take back long-term salary to trade him. Sometimes a deal involving a player like Augustin feels too good to be true.