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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 22: Drafting a dream

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; The basketball court for the NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. The court is made from 397 4’ x 7’ panels of Northern Hard Maple, weighing approximately 188 pounds each. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK
Mar 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; The basketball court for the NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. The court is made from 397 4’ x 7’ panels of Northern Hard Maple, weighing approximately 188 pounds each. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Paul George, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves
Mar 28, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) shoots the ball in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Indiana Pacers 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

This question was bound to come up. Everyone has wanted to bring Paul George to Orlando and use the Frank Vogel connection as a way to do so. George’s incredible dissatisfaction with this season probably will continue to feed these rumors.

And, of course, the Magic should explore bringing a player like Paul George in if they can. George is one of the best players in the league and would automatically transform this team. He has essentially carried the Indiana Pacers to the Playoffs by himself. So, yes, the Magic are very interested.

George may not be the only guy looking to change addresses. There are already rumors Jimmy Butler could be looking to get his way out of Chicago. And DeMarcus Cousins might also be back on the market, considering how disastrous the New Orleans Pelicans have been since the trade.

So throw them all in one pot. The Magic are looking for a potential star to get themselves back on track and they will certainly explore all these options.

Their ability to do it? I am extremely skeptical for a number of reasons.

First, and foremost, the Magic probably do not have the assets to acquire one of these stars. It would likely cost their first round pick and probably Aaron Gordon too. Or at least another player of value. Gordon probably has to be involved.

What is tricky with Gordon is that he is so raw still and has failed to define himself that I am not sure another team would risk acquiring him heading into his free agency. I have a hard time figuring out what his value is for an extension right now. So maybe I am wrong overall.

Second, and this is especially for George and Cousins, ar ethe Magic willing to give up a ton of future assets to acquire a player set to become a free agent? I am not so sure about that either. If the Magic were to acquire one of these players, they would require a promise to re-sign or have an extension in place. That is a lot of legwork to do in addition to putting together the team to acquire him.

Put those together, and I do not see how the Magic put together a package of players to acquire these players and get them to sign an extension to stay long term.

It would be a huge risk, to say the least.

So short answer, Orlando absolutely looks into it. But I do not see how they get the deal done.