The NBA trade deadline is just a day away. The Orlando Magic are still figuring out their roster and their assets. Let’s sort through what they have.
Everyone is ready to see change with the Orlando Magic as the NBA’s trade deadline quickly approaches. There has probably not been as much pressure or as much anticipation to see the team do something at the deadline as there is this year.
After six years out of the Playoffs and new management coming in, everyone wants to see the remnants of the Rob Hennigan era swept away and the contours of a new era begin gaining some definition.
Jeff Weltman’s first chance to make some real change will come at the February 8 trade deadline. There, the Magic could change their fortunes in a major way.
Or they could sit still and wait for the offseason to do the heavy lifting everyone knows is coming. After falling to the worst record in the league and staring down a likely high draft pick, the Magic clearly need to make some changes to their main core. They clearly need to move in a new direction.
Everyone is trying to anticipate what that new direction is.
Of course, actually changing the roster is very difficult. Otherwise, that process would have likely started in the summer.
The reality is the Magic still have a lot of big contracts they will find tough to move. From Evan Fournier to Bismack Biyombo, there are big deals that teams are going to find it hard to take. Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross are on more manageable short-term deals, but they are both injured.
The Magic have a few young players on rookie contracts that might get some nibbles. But otherwise, this is a team that does not have a lot to offer. Unless a deal seemingly blows the Magic away or delivers them an interesting player they might be willing to integrate into their core, they may be better off waiting.
No one seems particularly sure what the trade deadline holds in store. The only thing that seems for sure is the team needs some change. And they need to make a trade at some level.
As we have done at Orlando Magic Daily, it is time to take some stock of what the Magic have with our annual trade value column.
Based off the popular Bill Simmons column, here is our ranking of the Magic’s trade assets. The idea here is, based on the player’s skill, production, upside and contract, who is the most valuable player on the team?
The pickings seem fairly slim when push comes to shove. But the Magic can still fish for a deal.