Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2019: Who are the Orlando Magic's most valuable trade assets

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Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, Mohamed Bamba, Jarell Martin, Orlando Magic

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 25: Orlando Magic Center Timofey Mozgov (21) in a blazer during the Orlando Magic against Los Angeles Lakers NBA game on November 25, 2018, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /

Category II — Let me think about it

13. Isaiah Briscoe (1 year, $0.8 million)

It is really hard to trade minimum contracts. They are essentially throw-ins to get just over the line. So there really is not much benefit in discussing the trade value of players on minimum deals. Especially rookies.

And on that point, Isaiah Briscoe fits in. The Magic probably could not get much in return for him even if they wanted to.

Frankly, the Magic have no reason to shop Briscoe around or even use him as a throw-in. He has played surprisingly well and been one of the few shots in the dark that have worked for the Magic.

Briscoe has emerged as the team’s backup point guard, providing some hard-nosed defense and physicality to a bench that needs that energy. He is still improving as a passer but has shown a good knack at dishing the ball off his drives. That will be a work in progress like his shot. But a good rookie year for Briscoe should get him a second look somewhere.

12. Melvin Frazier (3 years, $4.1 million)

The Orlando Magic have gotten into the habit of taking a slow approach with the second-round picks they have taken. Justin Jackson has been with the Lakeland Magic all year while recovering from injury. And like Wesley Iwundu last year, Melvin Frazier is also getting more time in Lakeland than he is on the Magic’s main roster.

Then again, maybe it is Wesley Iwundu’s emergence this year that has pushed Melvin Frazier for more development time.

Frazier has appeared in just three games on the main roster so far this year. None of those have come in meaningful minutes.

If there is good news it is that he is playing well for the Lakeland Magic. In 13 games, he is averaging 12.3 points per game and shooting a surprising 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. That is a good sign that he is developing well. The Magic have let him work on that in the G-League.

But with Iwundu and Frazier having similar profiles, the Magic might be willing to throw in this promising player as a sweetener in a deal.

11. Timofey Mozgov (2 years, $32.7 million)

This is the part where some Magic fans might ask why Timofey Mozgov is ahead of anyone on this list. After all, he has not played a game all season as he recovers from a knee injury. No one really even bothers to ask the status of his recovery. He has not dressed in uniform for any regular season game so far.

What value could Mozgov possibly have?

That is a good question. It is a fair question.

But I suspect Mozgov will have some value very soon. If the Magic want to hold the roster spot for him (the cap hit will be there anyway and stretching him is a very bad idea), Mozgov becomes something pretty valuable for a team looking to shed salary — an expiring contract.

Mozgov may not ever play a minute for the Magic. But that expiring contract could very well have some value for a team moving forward.

The reality is the Magic are probably not going to sign any major free agent any time soon. If they want to make a splashy trade, Mozgov along with another smaller contract they want to shed, could be their best bet to do that.

And so, I think Mozgov has some value. Depending on the asset the Magic attach to him to make it worth a team’s while. Look for Mozgov to be worth even more closer to next year’s deadline.