Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2018

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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 28, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Category III — Is that what you are offering? OK, I guess

10. Wesley Iwundu (2 years, $3 million)

The Orlando Magic were not angling for much at the end of the first round. They traded away their second first-round pick and one of their two second-round picks. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman uttered his infamous “the draft flattened out” line.

Maybe the Magic did not want to commit to a long-term contract that a first-round pick entails. Judging by the team’s comments about Kyle Kuzma when the Los Angeles Lakers were in town, the Orlando Magic really liked him, bringing him in for three workouts. Perhaps they were hoping he would be available when they drafted early in the second round and got beat. Those are answers we may never fully know.

But the Magic did get a decent player with their second-round pick. Wesley Iwundu has turned out to be a solid contributor to the team. He is a good defender with solid basketball intelligence. His offensive game still needs continued development and refinement. But that was a known weakness when the team drafted him in the first place.

Iwundu is on a second-round pick’s contract. That makes him extremely cost controlled. And therefore somewhat difficult to deal. You are not going to get a lot for a player who is only making $1 million. And Iwundu still has a lot of growth to go. He likely tops off as a rotational player off the bench.

9. Mario Hezonja (1 year, $4.1 million)

Before the season began, the Orlando Magic were trying to move Mario Hezonja. Literally, they were trying to give him away essentially for free. The team just wanted to be rid of his contract and give him the chance to start over fresh. The former fifth overall pick had disappointed in just about every way.

Last year, he made just 29.9 percent of his 3-pointers. It was a mix of a lack of playing time — that he struggled to earn with his poor play — and a bothersome knee injury that sapped much of his athleticism throughout the year. He never really could figure it out and never could get quite right.

The Magic ended up declining his team option when they could not find a deal for him.

The good news might be that Hezonja has played himself into some value with a stellar run of late as the Magic have been hit with injuries. Entering Wednesday’s game, he is averaging 7.8 points per game and hitting a comfortable 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. At the very least, Hezonja has turned into a decent rotation player. One that should get some more time to develop.

The question is how much will someone pay him? And then are his Bird Rights worth acquiring in a trade or should a team just go after him in free agency? Those are bigger questions. But Hezonja has at least regained some inherent value again.