Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 25: What comes next?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors /

From Drew Chavez via Facebook

"Do you see [Aaron] Gordon, [Elfrid] Payton, or Mario [Hezonja] getting traded at the deadline if they don’t get off to a strong start this upcoming [season] and what kind of return do they bring back? Last question, well it’s an opinion and question in one. The moves the Magic made, it seems they are looking to make it to the worse place to be not good enough to compete and not bad enough to get a top pick. How do you think the Magic are handling this approach or am I looking at this wrong?"

I think it is possible the Magic look to shop Aaron Gordon or Elfrid Payton closer to the deadline if they struggle. Even if Payton plays well, I would imagine the Magic view him as a guy they can shop around to get a firm upgrade at point guard for the future.

For Gordon and Payton, their looming restricted free agency makes them really valuable trade chips. But neither are players the Magic are ready to give away. Orlando just has to have a good idea of how much they are willing to spend and a good sense of the market.

To my eye, Gordon is a safer bet for the team to keep no matter what. They might be willing to overspend on him next summer in free agency. It all depends on how he plays this year.

Payton is probably going to get to play out this year without much extension talk and prove he is the starting point guard for the future. He can do it if he plays like he did to end last season.

Hezonja, at this point, does not have much trade value. I do not think teams are willing to give up much of value for him.

Essentially, this is a prove it year for a lot of people — as I discussed on the last episode of the Orlando Magic Daily Podcast. These players have to prove their worth in the NBA because it is so unknown.

For the team overall, I disagree with the notion the Magic are tanking (I apologize if that sounds crass since the question was written before last week’s signings). I think their signing of Afflalo and Speights showed the team is trying to add veterans to bolster the bench and get the team over the top or at least into the Playoff conversation.

Their presence over signing younger options suggests the team is serious about winning.

But that concern the Magic are entering NBA Purgatory is a valid one. The team is probably not going to be bad enough to angle for a top pick — a game the team has played and failed for four of the last five years — but they may not be good enough to make the Playoffs.

I fall in the boat of winning. Winning is never bad. And the Magic making the Playoffs, even with this imperfect roster, would be a good thing. It would create the value the Magic need for trades. And the team can figure itself out from there.