Orlando Magic Daily
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5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s third quarter of the season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have had their struggles this year but still find themselves in a playoff spot. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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.
Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have had their struggles this year but still find themselves in a playoff spot. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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. /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Aaron Gordon struggled to get going once again and the Orlando Magic followed him in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

How do the Orlando Magic attack the trade deadline?

The Evan Fournier question is certainly a big part of the Orlando Magic’s trade deadline deliberations. But there are a host of questions the Magic can answer and things the Magic can do at the trade deadline.

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Orlando is a playoff team, sitting comfortably as the 7-seed, well behind the top six teams in the Eastern Conference and with a comfortable five-game cushion on the final playoff spot. The Magic are not likely to find any player on the market that would significantly change their fortunes.

There is no denying at this point the Magic have some big questions ahead of them. Everyone senses this team is nearing its ceiling after a second straight season hovering around .500 and fighting for one of the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference.

The question is how do the Magic attack the trade deadline. Do they try to make that big play now? Most likely that is not going to get them into the upper seeds of the East. And it does not seem likely teams are willing to trade those big-contract players at this time.

Would Orlando give up some future assets to add a 3-point shooter to get them through the rest of this season? Is that worth it for Orlando?

The Magic are likely only looking at trades that will help their bigger picture. They are not going to make move on the margins to make this team only slightly better. But they are also not going to make a move that completely jeopardizes their playoff run.

With the way the market is beginning to shape up, it seems like the Magic are more likely viewed as sellers at this trade deadline. They do not have the pieces or the positioning to make a big move to bolster their team. And their most tradeable asset is their top scorer in Evan Fournier, see the discussion in the previous slide.

So what is the Magic’s posture at the trade deadline then?

Probably patience, knowing there is likely a big summer to come to reshape this team and start helping push it forward. Likely the team is not ready to make many of those decisions quite yet. Not with the playoffs still firmly in reach.