What kind of players or assets should the Orlando Magic focus on acquiring at the trade deadline? What is the ideal structure of a deal?
Flynn: The Orlando Magic should be looking to acquire young players with one year left on their first contract, expiring veterans or draft picks in the 2018 Draft. The Magic may not have the assets to acquire a valuable draft pick, but they may be able to target a young player in need of a change of scenery. This would fall directly in line with the Magic’s goal should be to create cap space while simultaneously rebuilding on the fly.
Palmer: I believe it depends on who the Magic are trading. If it is Elfrid Payton, you would like a second-round pick or somebody who has underperformed on a rookie contract. If you are trading Evan Fournier, you would want a mix of cap relief and prospects or picks. I do not think there is anything specific the Magic need since they are so far away from being a good basketball team.
Treadway: Ideally the Magic, if trading, need to look for younger players with some potential and upside or for draft picks. While it is always good to have a mix of younger players and veterans, the Magic need to clear cap space and have already gotten a handful of vets. They should be looking to retool at this point and find players who fit the mold of what Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are looking for or draft picks to rebuild with.
Rossman-Reich: I do not think you can be picky at the trade deadline. You have to take whatever the market will bear. So I do not think the Magic will get any surefire long-term assets. They will have to take a little bit of a risk. The kind of players I would focus on are players on their rookie contracts who might need a fresh start or a new place to play. There are a few of them like Stanley Johnson or Emmanuel Mudiay. I would avoid taking on any upcoming restricted free agents. I do not think the Magic are ready to commit to anything long-term like that.