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Orlando Magic 2018 NBA Draft Preview: Where the Orlando Magic might target trades

By Philip Rossman-Reich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Danilo Gallinari, LA Clippers, Nick Young, Golden State Warriors
OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles past Nick Young #6 of the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on February 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

LA Clippers (12th, 13th Overall Picks)

The easy target everyone in the league has picked apart as a potential trade partner is the LA Clippers with back-to-back picks in the late Lottery.

The Clippers are a team that needs to infuse some talent after trading Blake Griffin and maybe losing DeAndre Jordan in free agency this summer. The team is looking at a bit of a reset with a cap situation that is less than ideal.

LA would love to move up in the draft to get that fresh talent the team needs to begin rebuilding after the breakup of Lob City. If they can get off a bad salary in the process maybe they do that.

The Orlando Magic could be a team that looks to move down here. This would give the Magic two bites at the Lottery apple and a chance to pick promising but rawer players like Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Collin Sexton. Those players may not be the runaway hits that Trae Young or Mohamed Bamba are. But they are still quality players who can help a team win. And maybe turn into something more.

The question is whether Orlando could get LA to take on a bad deal to make things work. Would they take on Bismack Biyombo or Evan Fournier? What about Nikola Vucevic or Terrence Ross (both expiring)? Would the Clippers be willing to take on those deals?

Would the Magic be willing to take back Danilo Gallinari in that case too?

Gallinari has two years left on his deal starting at $21.6 million. The Magic have that big decision to make whether they want to take on more money in a deal. To do even that, they might insist on trading Biyombo — taking on more money in exchange for a potentially more productive player.

This is one of the big decisions for the Magic. How do they accomplish their goals — whatever they may be — while still extracting value? In this sense, keeping the sixth pick even if the team wants to make a reach might make the most sense. Unless there are future first-round picks involved to sweeten the deal.