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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 35: Free agency cometh

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks
DALLAS, TX – JANUARY 9: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on January 9, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The trade option

Free agency, of course, is not the only way for the Orlando Magic to pick up new players. The trade market is open again and teams are trying to maneuver extra cap room or to shuffle up their roster.

It is hard to figure out who exactly is on the market and what teams are looking to do. The trade market may pick up more after the first wave of free agents sign and teams realize who they are missing.

The Houston Rockets are already rumored to be heavily involved in the trade market, trying to trade big-money contracts in Eric Gordon ($14.1 million, expiring), Clint Capela ($16.4 million, three years remaining) and P.J. Tucker ($8.3 million, two years remaining) to get a first-round pick and cap room to sign Jimmy Butler.

There is always the chance the Magic try to get involved in a player like this. It is hard to see how the Magic could help them cut salary.

Orlando really has only the expiring contract of Timofey Mozgov that they are comfortable offering. That asset might become more valuable at the trade deadline unless a team feels like it could use stretching him to open up more cap room (roughly $11 million).

Orlando could possibly get involved in some of these deals. It would likely mean attaching a first-round pick — a big risk without knowing how this year’s team will perform — or maybe a young player like Wesley Iwundu or even D.J. Augustin‘s expiring contract.

It does not seem likely the Magic would be willing to part with them unless they are getting something really good.

The dust needs to settle some on free agency first. They could see what the Charlotte Hornets want to do after losing Kemba Walker. Other teams might lose out on free agents and look to shift and change their focus for the future. Orlando could be willing to take on a risk with a big contract player and swap bad contracts like they did in the Jerian Grant trade last year.

This seems to be where the Magic are headed in the trade market.

At the moment, it feels like Orlando is again playing with a small margin for error. Every player on their current roster serves a purpose and has importance to the team. None seem very movable unless a great player is coming back in return.

Mozgov is the only player the team would love to move. Evan Fournier might be a player they want to move, but only if they get a starter in return (or find a starter-quality player in free agency).

It feels like the Magic will probably wait until the trade deadline before really hitting the trade market heavy. But they certainly could look to hit the trade market more aggressively once the dust settles.