Now that NBA teams have had the chance to assess their rosters, trade rumors have begun to rise through the cracks. The trade deadline will be on Mar. 25 and the Orlando Magic are in the position to make small moves to improve their roster.
So far, this season has been underwhelming. Markelle Fultz finally began to hit his stride but soon tore his left ACL putting him out for the season.
Additional injuries to Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Fournier earlier in the season also hampered the Orlando Magic’s progress. Fortunately, Fournier has returned to the lineup like he never left, but it is clear the Magic are in need of some help.
Their current roster has relied on the developing passing of Aaron Gordon, the scoring of Nikola Vucevic and the consistency of Evan Fournier. But these three players can only take the Magic so far.
Sixth man Terrence Ross and role players including Khem Birch and Gary Clark have all played well to varying degrees but are only able to provide a certain amount of value on the floor.
Even Cole Anthony, the Magic’s first-round draft pick, has played well considering he was thrust into the starting lineup shortly after Markelle Fultz was injured.
Unfortunately, the true potential of this squad will not be on full display until at least next year as the Magic await Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac’s return. But the Magic are still in playoff contention despite the early setbacks.
In order to assess who or what kind of players the Magic need to trade for, it is important to understand what exactly the Magic are struggling with and why.
Last year the Magic were ranked 22nd in offensive rating and 11th in defensive rating. They were a team that had begun to finally see the fruits of their labor as they established themselves as a top-10 defense for a second straight year.
But their offense caused them problems last season as they struggled to hit shots from behind the arc (25th in three-point percentage) and struggled to put up points (24th in points scored per game).
Orlando Magic
This year the Magic have regressed in defense and have remained mostly inconsistent offensively. The Magic are currently ranked 20th in defensive efficiency while they are No. 12 in the league in opponent points per game.
One can expect that the team’s defense will improve once Fultz and Isaac return to the lineup. In regards to this season, Steve Clifford will have to work to optimize the players he has and improve their defense into a coherent and most importantly consistent defense.
Their offense has improved over the past few games but they are still struggling from behind the arc (24th in 3-point percentage) and are tied for 25th in offensive efficiency.
Unlike their defense, an improvement on offense may not come from within. When either Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic or Aaron Gordon leave the floor, the Magic’s offense becomes stagnant.
Despite the career-high three-point shooting and passing from Gordon or the all-star level production from Vucevic, the Magic are in need of more options.
Knowing the Magic’s weaknesses, the team will most likely need a dynamic scorer or a three-point specialist. It would also help to have a player who cannot only shoot but has a positive impact on the defensive end.
3-and-D players or capable 3-point shooters are in high demand and contenders will be looking to snatch up these players when made available.
While they do have more appeal than a team like the Magic, it would be in the Magic’s best interest to pursue these players.
Even if the Magic are not looking to buy, their focus at the trade deadline should be in looking to find shooters to boost this team beyond this season.
Honorable Mentions
Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks
At the top of this list is Josh Richardson. The swingman for the Dallas Mavericks has only played nine games due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols and a calf injury. But as a 3-and-D player, his services are coveted by almost every team in the league.
In order to trade for Richardson, the Orlando Magic would most likely have to give up Evan Fournier or Aaron Gordon along with picks in order to make the deal worth it for Dallas. Richardson is making $10.9 million with a player option for $11.6 million next season.
Even though the Mavericks, similar to the Magic, are underperforming, they are still in contention for the top of the West. They will most likely only make moves that bring them closer to the Finals.
Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets
Recently signed to an extension, Joe Harris has quickly become one of the league’s best 3-point shooters. Harris is excellent off the catch and is a capable cutter.
This year he is shooting 47.3-percent from three on 6.5 attempts per game. His fit alongside the Brooklyn Nets’ big three has so far caused no problems. For this reason alone, the Nets will most likely not be willing to part ways with Harris.
The Orlando Magic would also need to give up a substantial amount to match salaries and also put together a package the Nets will take. Harris signed to a four-year, $72-million contract with $3 million in unlikely bonuses.
In order to match that, the Magic would need to at least have Gordon or Fournier included, just to match salaries. This deal between the two teams is unlikely.
P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have struggled to build momentum after the James Harden trade. On paper, their roster is enticing, especially since Christian Wood is putting up All-Star numbers. However, P.J. Tucker, arguably one of the Rockets’ most valuable players is unhappy.
After not agreeing to an extension with the Rockets, Tucker has been floated in trade rumors. He will most likely end up on a title contender if traded, but Tucker’s services would be beneficial to the Magic’s offense and defense.
Despite his smaller stature (6-foot-5), Tucker is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player. His ability to neutralize all five positions makes him a versatile defender.
His three-point shooting is also something that the Magic could use, especially at the forward spot. Similar to Harris, a deal between the Magic and the Rockets is unlikely due to each team’s differing needs.
Tucker makes $8 million this year and will become a free agent in the offseason.
J.J. Redick, New Orleans Pelicans
Since his days with the Orlando Magic, J.J. Redick has evolved into one of the NBA’s best three-point shooters. His return would almost instantly improve the Magic’s offense.
The New Orleans Pelicans have recently begun to show interest in moving J.J. Redick along with teammate Lonzo Ball. While the Magic are shorthanded at point guard, Ball will not be of much help due to his inability to produce on the offensive end.
Redick on the other hand would provide much-needed shooting.
Redick is a career 41.3-percent 3-point shooter and has been a consistent threat from deep for the majority of his career. Even during his first six years with the Magic under Stan Van Gundy, J.J. Redick shot better than 37-percent on at least three attempts per game.
The Smoking Cuban
Redick is often remembered for his days with the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers where he became known as one of the most lethal shooters in the NBA.
However, his best days were to come.
During his short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, Redick averaged 17.6 points per game and shot 40.8-percent from behind the arc on 7.3 attempts per game.
Although he has not played his best with the New Orleans Pelicans, especially this season, Redick still commands respect from opposing defenses.
As mentioned before, the Magic are far from where they want to be offensively, especially from three. The addition of Redick would help right the ship for the Magic and give Clifford a competent shooter.
Due to his shooting and his ability to slide into most NBA rotations, he will be in high demand, especially from contenders. He is also 36 years old and is currently on the last year of his $13-million contract. That alone makes the reunion far more difficult than the Magic may be willing to pay for.
Matching J.J. Redick’s salary along with providing enticing players could cost the Magic players like Mohamed Bamba or even Evan Fournier.
Although the Magic have had an underwhelming season so far, they must assess whether or not they want to cash in and be a buyer at the trade deadline. It will cost them several key players if they hope to make improvements to their roster, but it could hurt more than help if the Magic are passive in the trade market.
George Hill, Oklahoma City Thunder
George Hill has quickly become one of the most coveted veteran guards in the NBA. He remains a threat from behind the arc has always been a versatile defender and passer.
But Hill has become a journeyman of sorts as he has now played for seven teams during his 12-year career. At every stop of the way, he had a positive impact on the floor. And as he grew older, he adapted and became a player that contenders like the Milwaukee Bucks depended on.
In Nov. 2020, Hill was part of a four-team trade that sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder where he once again has proven to be a player that almost every team needs.
Last season, he led the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 46-percent. This season, although he has taken a step down and is shooting 38.6-percent from behind the arc, he has one of the NBA’s best true shooting percentages. He ranks ahead of players like Damian Lillard, Gordon Hayward and Stephen Curry.
A Royal Pain
Similarly, he has a higher offensive rating than Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard. By no stretch does this mean he is a better player, this simply means he has remained an effective guard despite his age.
While Hill has a career-low defensive rating of 115 per 100 possessions this season, it is likely due to his increase in minutes and increased workload with the Thunder.
Hill’s veteran presence, experience and level of play is what makes him an enticing option for almost every team in the NBA.
That is why, similar to J.J. Redick, trading for George Hill and competing with teams like the LA Clippers or the Brooklyn Nets could prove to be extremely difficult.
But if the Magic do manage to trade for Hill, perhaps at the expense of one of their young players, they would have a veteran guard that would instantly add another ball-handler and three-point shooter.
Hill’s offense and defense would hopefully stabilize the Magic’s largely inconsistent and unpredictable play. The Magic should not be searching for a blockbuster trade, rather smaller trades to add supplemental pieces to fortify a potential playoff contender.
Hill’s value will also be twofold. He is due to make $9.6-million this year. But he has one non-guaranteed year at $10.0 million next year. That gives whoever acquires him a lot of flexibility moving forward.
Landry Shamet, Brooklyn Nets
After the James Harden trade that gave the Brooklyn Nets their third superstar, Landry Shamet seems to be the odd man out. After the Nets exhausted most of their resources getting Harden, Shamet was rumored to be on the trading block.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Landry Shamet was offered by the Nets in an attempt to get a first-round pick in return.
The Orlando Magic currently have their own 2021 first-round draft pick and have several bench players who could prove to be useful to the Brooklyn Nets.
Now whether or not the Magic would be willing to part ways with the pick is unknown — it is not likely considering how up in the air the team’s future is, they would need a big return to give up their draft capital. Most likely this pick will land in the top half of the first round barring the Magic significantly improve their play.
That being said, in what is predicted to be a deep draft class, trading their first-round pick for Shamet may not be an optimal decision for the Magic at this time.
However, similar to J.J. Redick, Landry Shamet would provide the Magic with the shooting that they have been lacking.
This season Shamet has played the fewest minutes (17 minutes per game) of his young career. Similarly, he has shot a disappointing 28.6-percent from three. His poor shooting can most likely be chalked up to playing alongside three ball-dominant all-stars as he is a career 39.3-percent three-point shooter.
His lack of production should not be a red flag for any team looking to trade for Shamet, especially the Magic.
What makes Shamet a good fit in Orlando is that Shamet does most of his work off of assists rather than putting the ball on the floor.
In his five seasons in the league, 96-percent of Shamet’s made three-pointers were assisted, alternatively, 3.8-percent of his three-pointers made were unassisted.
Shamet is super affordable too, which actually might make him more difficult to trade. He makes $2.1 million this year and is due $3.7 million next year before entering restricted free agency in 2022.
If the Magic trade for Shamet, he most likely will not be asked to create off the dribble, that is why they have Terrence Ross. Shamet will become a reliable kick-out option for Fournier or Vucevic which will in turn, improve the team’s spacing.