Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2019
Category I — Sure, You Can Have Him
17. Troy Caupain (2-Way Contract)
Players on two-way contracts actually cannot be traded. They would first have to have their contracts converted to a regular NBA contract and that would require an open roster spot. That is not something the Orlando Magic have right now.
But these players deserve at least some mention just to give them some love for their work for the Lakeland Magic, who are currently 21-12 and second in the Eastern Conference. The Magic have at the very least two very intriguing players at the G-League level hungry for a chance with the big team if the Magic would give it.
Let’s start with Troy Caupain, who I rate slightly lower than Amile Jefferson just because of experience at that level.
Caupain followed up last year’s surprisingly efficient year as a shooter and as a point guard with a second straight strong year. Caupain is averaging 16.4 points per game and shooting 37.7 percent from beyond the arc. he also averages 5.1 assists per game.
Caupain appears to have improved all the areas he needed to get better. Whether he ends up getting an opportunity with the Magic or not, Caupain is deserving of a NBA look somewhere.
16. Amile Jefferson (2-Way Contract)
The same thing goes for Amile Jefferson. He is not eligible to be traded on a two-way contract. But he has put in a strong effort for the Lakeland Magic so far this season.
He leads Lakeland in both scoring (17.7 points per game) and rebounding (11.4 rebounds per game). This is par for the course for Jefferson. He led the G-League in rebounding last year for the Iowa Wolves.
Jefferson probably deserves a NBA look sooner rather than later. He is a bit undersized but hard-working on the glass and his range is slowly expanding.
The Magic have a pair of really strong two-way players developing in their system. The team just needs to find a way to play them on the main roster.
Orlando Magic
15. Jarell Martin (1 year, $2.4 million)
The Orlando Magic acquired the other two players in this category with the same thinking and taking the same risk. The exact kind of risk the Magic should take with these young players. There was no loss in them failing. Except maybe the production the team was relying on them to provide.
Orlando acquired Jarell Martin in return for Dakari Johnson (whom the team probably was cutting anyway). They were hoping they could give Martin a chance in a different environment and see if he could stick in the NBA.
That plan has not worked out. Some of it is that Martin never really got an opportunity. He has played in just 28 games and 8.4 minutes per game. It is hard to judge much of what Martin has done.
He has shown some improved 3-point shooting and outside range. But it has not been enough to get minutes. The Magic are not likely even to offer him a qualifying offer.
14. Jerian Grant (1 year, $2.6 million)
The same could be said for Jerian Grant.
Unlike Martin, Grant had a clear role coming into the season. The Magic were going to try him out as the backup point guard. And he had a track record that suggested he could potentially do it. It was not like Grant had not played before. He had more consistent playing time than Martin at least.
Jerian Grant though has lost that role to upstart rookie Isaiah Briscoe after struggling to provide much offensively. He is averaging only 4.1 points per game and 2.9 assists per game. He struggled to get the team into their sets and took a major step back after showing some promise last year.
Like Martin, the Magic are not likely to even offer him the qualifying offer. The Magic struck out on both of their second draft players.