4 teams the Orlando Magic could target for draft day trade

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman laid out the timeline for trades in the NBA Draft process earlier this week.

Once the draft order is revealed, everyone is gauging interest both ahead and behind them throughout the weeks leading into the draft. A lot of these conversations are more about intelligence gathering. Teams are trying to discern how the draft might shake out or to gather information on other potential trade opportunities.

As the draft inches closer though, the serious trade opportunities start to emerge. The teams that are really determined to accomplish something on draft night begin to shake out. As Matt Lloyd put it during a recent episode of the Orlando Magic Pod Squad, it is usually in the weekend before the draft that teams lock in on the opportunities that are real or not.

And certainly, less than 24 hours to go until the draft takes place, teams are more closely focused and aware of the opportunities to move up and down in the draft. As Lloyd said on that podcast, he expects a wild draft night with the conditions set for teams to move around to get the players they want.

With the NBA Draft mere hours away, trade negotiations and discussions will begin to get more serious. For the Orlando Magic opportunities abound both above and below them to accomplis their goals.

The Magic are certainly not exempt from that. Reporting has the Magic trying their best to try to trade up. Even with Orlando’s penchant for avoiding leaks, information has gotten out suggesting it is among the teams willing to make some moves on draft night.

Who could blame them?

After pulling the plug on their core of players that delivered them two playoff berths as their season circled the drain, the Magic put a lot into this draft only to come out fifth after holding the best odds to win the Lottery with the third pick in the draft. The Magic still seem heavily invested in this draft with the fifth and eighth picks to spend – not to mention the 33rd if they want to move back into the first round.

Orlando could also be a candidate to trade back. Their reported interest in Scottie Barnes seems to make him the sure guy to go No. 5. But his fit has always felt a bit clunky. His poor shooting and lack of offensive push makes it a hard sell to add him to a team that already has really promising players at his position.

The buzz going around about Barnes would make him a quality player for a team to try to trade up to acquire. As would the No. 8 pick with so many prospects likely getting the same grade, there is opportunity to trade up.

In all likelihood, the team stands pat and picks at Nos. 5 and 8. The Magic should still be able to add two good players in that case. There is no problem there.

But, as with all trades, the place to start is to target a team and find a framework that makes sense. From there, teams can fill in the details.

With Orlando’s ability to take on salary and perhaps a desire to add some more future assets, the team could be a willing trade partner. But first, the Magic have to find someone to deal with.