Orlando Magic: The players they should target for their trade exception

Philip Rossman-Reich

Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Lakers, Mohamed Bamba, Orlando Magic — Montrezl Harrell has been strong in short bursts but struggled to hold onto the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting five. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic are not expected to be among the most active teams in the offseason this year.

Their decision to tear down the roster and start over has them heading toward a rebuild. And while there are plenty of pieces the team can build around with the returns of Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz along with strong rookie showings from Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and Chuma Okeke, the team still has a long way to go and a lot of work to do to get not only back to playoff contention but into title contention.

The NBA Draft is going to go a long way to setting the Magic’s ceiling and determining which direction the Magic will go.

Orlando has an exceedingly young team and the biggest thing the team will be looking to do outside of their draft picks is finding veterans to fill out the roster.

The Orlando Magic will be looking to fill out their roster after the draft concludes. They have one major tool to add a potential impact player that they should be seeking for ways to maximize.

They will have a little bit of cap room — still likely less than $10 million — to spend plus the room exception of a little bit more than $4 million. That will not leave them with a lot of resources available to improve the roster.

This is a rebuilding team anyway and this is not exactly a great free-agent class. While Orlando will have potentially max cap room in the summer of 2022, it is still not clear whether the team will become players in that market. That might depend on where they land in the Lottery and how the Magic play with their top pick this year.

Regardless, Orlando wants to maintain their flexibility, even as they look for ways to improve their team.

The Magic do have one other tool they can use to improve their roster. One that is a bit more complicated to use, but is a powerful tool nonetheless.

The biggest acquisition for the Magic in the Evan Fournier trade was not Jeff Teague, whom the team waived a few days after completing the trade. It was the $17.2-million trade exception that trade created.

Orlando also made sizable trade exceptions in the Al-Farouq trade ($4.3 million) and Gary Clark trades ($2 million). But the one acquired from Fournier is the most significant chess piece on the board.

The trade exception gives the Magic the ability to acquire a player for $17-million more than they send out.

In essence, every trade in the league acts as a one-on-one trade (there are rules for players to match up so you could not trade a max player for a minimum player and make a gigantic trade exception). And so whenever there is an imbalance, a trade exception is created. At the end of each trade, the value going in must be essentially equal to the amount going out. The trade exceptions make up that difference.

Orlando Magic

The Fournier trade then really was Teague plus the difference in salary in a trade exception for Fournier.

This exception will last for one year — essentially until next year’s trade deadline. So the Magic could still be in the market for a big salary player even if they do not spend it in the offseason.

A team is not simply going to give the Magic some valuable player. In all likelihood, teams will be shopping around hoping the Magic will be able to rent their cap space to dump some unneeded contract. That is unless Orlando is willing to part with a number one pick or some other future asset (that seems unlikely).

Essentially, the Magic are likely hoping someone will pay the team to rent that trade exception and hopefully gain some player that could give them some value. Even if it costs them only a second-round pick or some player on the roster they are not interested in keeping — such as Dwayne Bacon and his non-guaranteed deal for the 2022 season.

The trade market certainly has not fully developed. As teams get eliminated from the playoffs, they will assess what they need to do to take the next steps — watch for the Portland Trail Blazers, who are likely to make some changes after another first-round exit.

There are at least a few players who already seem like they could be odd men out for teams. And trading away players to create some cap space or some flexibility. There will be a market for the trade exception.

Who might these targets be? A few ideas:

Orlando Magic Targets: Out of Rotation Players

Steven Adams, New Orleans Pelicans

When the New Orleans Pelicans acquired Steven Adams, it was a bit odd. The team had Zion Williamson, who was a power forward, but still fairly paint-bound. It felt like Adams would crowd him too much.

Adams is great at the little things. He sets good screens, he rebounds and he defends. There is very little teams would dislike about him.

His fit with the Pelicans was always a huge question mark, but he still managed to average 7.6 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. That was his lowest scoring mark since his rookie year. But that does not really matter.

Adams is the perfect guy to fit into the trade exception and even onto the Magic.

Adams is due to make $17 million this season and $17.9 million next year. Adams would be a good veteran to play alongside or behind Wendell Carter and provide insurance in case the team is not wholly sold on its center group.

Even when he did not fit with the Pelicans, he was a great veteran that made that team better. Every team would love a guy like Adams. If the Magic are looking to be aggressive and put themselves in a position to make the playoffs, Adams is a guy they should chase — whether that happens in the offseason or at the trade deadline.

This is an idea a lot of fans have galvanized behind. Keep an eye on it.

Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Lakers

The second-biggest reason the Los Angeles Lakers’ title defense went out with a whimper was because of their poor investment in role players — the first reason is injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers went out and acquired Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol and Andre Drummond to mixed results.

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Harrell especially was disappointing. He averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season for the Lakers. But he fell out of the playoff rotation completely, logging just 39 minutes in four games during the six-game series. That is not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Harrell is still likely better in short bursts off the bench. Teams want to harness his energy without giving in to some of the weaknesses he has.

Like Kenneth Faried, he creates a lot of highlight plays, but his energy does not always translate into productive play. The Lakers could not depend on him defensively and he gives very little offensively besides putbacks and pick and rolls.

The Magic could probably use some veteran at center to support their young guys — the Lakers have long been fantasy booked to trade for Mohamed Bamba for that matter. Harrell has one year left at $9.7 million on his contract. So it would be a low-risk acquisition.

Luke Kennard, LA Clippers

Luke Kennard has had a rough ride in the NBA. He faced injuries early in his career with the Detroit Pistons, then broke through for 15.8 points per game in 28 games in the 2019 season before getting traded to the LA Clippers in the Blake Griffin trade. He played 63 games this year, averaging 8.3 points per game and shooting 44.6-percent from beyond the arc.

Kennard, when he is healthy, is an ace shooter and even has some ability to attack off the dribble. Kennard’s best comparison is J.J. Redick in his later stages with the Orlando Magic. At least, that would be him at his peak.

He was good enough to sign a four-year, $64-million extension in December as the Clippers hoped to have shooting around their superstar duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. A player has to earn that somehow.

His injuries have made his availability the biggest issue. He is good when he gets the chance to develop consistency on the floor. But that just has not happened. Kennard has played only 14 minutes in the Clippers’ playoff series so far. It is just hard to get him in the game.

Undoubtedly, Kennard would fill a major need for the Orlando Magic. He is a career 41.3-percent 3-point shooter. The team desperately needs that presence. In that sense, if the Clippers were offering him up to lessen their tax bill, the Magic would jump at the chance.

But his extension has not kicked in yet. If the Magic acquired him, they would be on the hook for him through at least 2024 (the final year of his four-year deal has a team option). Taking him on would certainly require some draft sweeteners from the Clippers or maybe a second part of the deal to swap some other piece the Magic no longer want.

Finding the construct of a deal that helps Orlando maintain cap flexibility is difficult unless the team desperately wants Kennard for his skill and will just sit with the contract.

Orlando Magic Targets: Second-Chance Players

Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers

When Kyle Kuzma hit the league, he seemed to immediately take it by storm.

The 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft — the one Jeff Weltman infamously said had flattened out as he traded out of the 25th pick — became a scoring wizard for the rebuilding Los Angeles Lakers. Kuzma averaged 16.1 points per game and 18.7 points per game in his first two years.

But he struggled since LeBron James’ arrival. He averaged 12.8 and 12.9 points per game in each of the last two years. His 3-point field goal percentage dropped to 31.6-percent last year before bouncing back to 36.1-percent.

Kuzma is still good enough that he gets his fair share of starts. But something is still missing and nobody can seem to get a grip on the young player.

In this year’s playoffs, Kuzma completely disappeared, averaging 6.3 points per game and shooting 17.4-percent from beyond the arc. That was not so dissimilar from the drops he suffered during the Lakers’ championship run.

Los Angeles needs more from him if the team is going to continue competing for titles. And a change of scenery might be best.

Kuzma is not a super likely option for the trade exception. The Lakers will probably hope to get some player in return. The Lakers would probably hope to get someone like Terrence Ross or Gary Harris in return to help them in their championship pursuit.

Los Angeles could trade away Kuzma, who is set to make $13 million in each of the next three seasons with a player option on 2024, to get under the cap and try to make some machinations to revamp the team.

That contract length is likely to give the Magic pause. Not to mention the team has little room right now with Chuma Okeke and Jonathan Isaac occupying those spots. Kuzma might slide in at small forward and be a stopgap starter.

Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks

Josh Richardson had a rough year with the Dallas Mavericks. The promising guard has been on a downhill spiral since getting traded from the Miami Heat to the Philadelphia 76ers two years ago (and then again to the Dallas Mavericks last year).

Richardson averaged 12.1 points per game but saw his 3-point field goal percentage drop to 33.0-percent, the third straight year that has dropped. He scored only 4.9 points per game in 13.4 minutes per game during the Mavericks’ playoff series.

He is supposed to provide strong defense, but even that has seemed to slip.

Richardson has not fallen out of the rotation by any means, but he is also not living up to his contract. With just one year remaining at $11.6 million, Richardson is not an albatross either. But the Mavericks, with a little cap room to spend in addition to needing to re-sign Tim Hardaway Jr., might need a place to park Richardson’s salary if he picks up his player option.

Richardson is the kind of reclamation project the Orlando Magic could be sniffing for. There is a good player in Richardson, even if his 3-point shooting was always a bit overvalued. And he has shown he can thrive within hard-working, over-achieving teams.

If the experiment does not work, the Magic still maintain their cap flexibility for the 2022 offseason.

Marvin Bagley, Sacramento Kings

It would be really hard for a team to give up on a player who is still on their rookie contract. Especially when they expended significant draft capital on him — the second pick in that loaded 2018 NBA Draft.

But Marvin Bagley has struggled to find his footing in the NBA. Whether it is injuries or just the changing nature of the NBA, Bagley has had his moments but is nowhere near the player he was in college that made him the second pick in the draft. It sure feels like the Sacramento Kings are trying to figure out what to do with him.

Bagley averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last year. He has been fairly consistently at that level in three years. He hit 34.3-percent from beyond the arc, so he is trying to add that part to his game. But the consistency is just not there yet.

Orlando has plenty of young players already on the roster. Wendell Carter and Mohamed Bamba right now are fighting for the center minutes. And it still feels like the Magic could add a veteran. The team could theoretically trade one of their young centers for a shot at Bagley but they all become restricted free agents at the end of the season.

This is not a likely target for that reason. Orlando would want to send something out to give Bagley a proper chance.

Derrick Jones, Portland Trail Blazers

That would be a twist, wouldn’t it? Acquiring the player who topped Aaron Gordon during the infamous 50-off in the 2020 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest. But Derrick Jones developed into a decent player in his own right.

He made his name with the Miami Heat as a rim runner and defender. Jones was much more than a dunker — although that was still his main skill.

Jones was in and out of the rotation though last year and ultimately was not used in the playoffs. Jones averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 22.7 minutes per game this year for the Blazers. He played a total of 10 minutes in the playoffs.

His lack of shooting ultimately took him out of the rotation, even though the Blazers could have used someone with a little more defensive presence.

Jones is one of those players who has always been more about his athleticism and his potential rather than his actual ability.

That might be something the Magic could be willing to take on though. Jones has a player option for $9.7 million next year that he will surely pick up. A one-year flyer that has a pick attached to it might be something the Magic could consider.

Orlando Magic Targets: Expiring Veterans

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Orlando Magic desperately need veterans, guys who can be a guiding hand for the young players. With so many young guards on the roster, having one adult in the room would be a huge boost to them. It is why it feels very likely that the team tries to keep Michael Carter-Williams around.

One veteran who might come on the market though that might be worth looking into is Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio.

Despite never truly living up to his hype when he came from Spain, Rubio has pieced together a really strong career. He averaged 8.6 points per game and 6.4 assists per game last year in what was the worst statistical season of his career last year. He would even admit that.

But the Timberwolves wanted to keep Rubio around to give some injury insurance and to be a level head in a young locker room. He understood that was his role and it paid some dividends as the Timberwolves played really well to finish the season — especially after D’Angelo Russell returned.

It is not clear what direction Minnesota wants to go. There is a special relationship between Rubio and the Timberwolves. And they could still use his veteran hand. With an expiring contract at $17.8 million, he might make a bit more than the Magic could acquire using the trade exception. But there is still value in what Rubio provides.

Taurean Prince, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be under the cap this offseason. They have $86.9 million in cap room. They will be one of the few teams with actual cap space to throw around in this weakened market. Some veteran help is probably fine and Taurean Prince’s expiring contract at $13-million is not super weighty.

But the Cavaliers could be fishing for a big deal. And they likely do not want to take on some long-term salary. The direction the Cavaliers go as a team will depend on the draft — and there are already some rumblings they could look to break up the promising SexLand backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton.

The same reasons that the Cleveland Cavaliers might be hesitant to give up a player like Prince is the same reason the Orlando Magic should consider chasing him down. He is a good defensive presence and a great veteran for a young team to have around.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 9.5 points per game in 41 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers last year. He shot 40.1-percent from beyond the arc, including 38.5-percent with the Cavaliers.

Prince would be the perfect 3-and-D player to help a young team like the Magic. Again, a reason the Cavaliers would not likely part with him.

Philip Rossman-Reich

Philip Rossman-Reich is the senior writer for Orlando Magic Daily and host of Locked On Magic. Philip has been a lifelong Magic fan and covered the team since the 2010 season. He has written for Orlando Magic Daily since 2009. He also covers UCF sports for the Associated Press and was a producer for Spectrum Sports 360 on Spectrum News 13.