Orlando Magic 2021 NBA Draft Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers should be the trade-up target

How could the Magic land the third pick?

If the Orlando Magic are to land the third pick, a deal which sees both the fifth and the eighth go to Cleveland and the third go to Orlando makes the most sense. It is a tough decision to make, given those picks would give Weltman two players and two bites of the apple at getting a superstar. But one go at a higher spot in this draft is more beneficial.

It would see Cleveland bolster a roster which is further into its rebuild and already has potential stars to build around — Darius Garland and Collin Sexton — and the Magic would go high risk for more chance of a big star.

Given fifth is only two back from Cleveland’s pick, and it would be getting another high selection too, Orlando should push for another addition. Maybe a future pick or a player like Cedi Osman, for example. The team could even offer some salary relief with their open cap space.

But it might not be as simple as a swap between the Magic’s picks and the Cavs’. It is possible the Cavs might be looking for player compensation of its own if it is to give up a top-three pick.

What Cleveland needs is defense. It is why the team drafted Isaac Okoro. Despite the Magic’s disappointing defensive numbers last season, there are some good individual defenders on the roster that could help boost Cleveland’s 25th worst defensive rating.

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If the Cavaliers are ready to make sacrifices to start winning more games after years of disappointment since LeBron James departed, they have to do something about the defense. Both Sexton and Garland show potential defensively, especially the latter, but the team gives up way too many buckets to opposing guards.

Someone like Gary Harris, or even Michael Carter-Williams, could help solve that problem. Harris’ salary would no doubt lessen Cleveland’s interest, but his on-ball defense could help the Cavs to become a better team.

Veteran players who have likely reached their ceiling should not be off the table when it comes to trading up. Even though Harris would benefit the Magic’s young backcourt next season, as would the experience of Carter-Williams, they should be seen as tradeable should it be necessary.

Where the line must be drawn however is when it comes to the young core — particularly the likes of Cole Anthony and Chuma Okeke. Only in an extraordinary scenario should the Magic move away from its promising young players. This has to be about adding another to that core.

The Magic must also try to keep one of the picks, likely the eighth, if its players the Cavaliers want. This would also likely require Orlando to take players back in the deal too, though.

For Cleveland, a tempting scenario might be offloading the salary of Kevin Love to Orlando. Love did not enjoy a successful season, playing just 25 games and attracting widespread criticism when he gave up on his team and batted an inbounds pass straight to the Toronto Raptors for an open shot.

Following Weltman’s trade deadline moves, the Magic now have plenty of cap space moving forward and could probably work out a deal whereby not a lot has to go in the other direction to assume Love. But while he can still space the floor, not a lot can be expected of a 32-year-old with an injury record as bad as his.

There are a few different ways the two could construct a deal, but Cleveland holds the power in this situation and the decision on whether to go through with a trade down hinges on several big team strategy decisions that would have to suit what the Magic can offer.