4 teams the Orlando Magic could target for draft day trade

Orlando Magic NBA Draft Trade Targets

Cleveland Cavaliers

When it comes to the potential for trading up, it always seemed to center with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have the right mix of young players that seem ready to break through in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, poor fit with what is available in the draft and contracts they might want to unload to make a deal happen.

Cleveland first needs a good understanding of what the team is trying to build though. There have been ample trade rumors involving Collin Sexton and the team’s desire to move on and focus on either a new backcourt with Jalen Suggs. They also have Jarrett Allen set to hit restricted free agency that could deter them from taking Evan Mobley at No. 3.

The Cavaliers have also been a favored target to take a chance on Scottie Barnes inside the top-4 because of his clear fit with the roster. Both Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are more scoring guards and so Barnes would give them a clearer fit within the roster sliding in at forward.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland also has some salary it could want to shed in veterans Taurean Prince and Kevin Love.

That all seems like the conditions of a team that could be willing to move. And the Magic certainly have the assets to make a competitive offer.

A deal that would send the fifth or eighth pick to Cleveland for the third pick and Prince would be a good place to start. It would give the Cavaliers a pick still in the top-10 and unload Prince’s contract (an expiring deal after the 2022 season for $13 million).

Orlando might have to add some salary to make it work. Terrence Ross’ salary would match Taurean Prince as a veteran. Ross is a bit more valuable as a contributor right now but has an extra year on his contract. It would be an odd push-in move for a Cavaliers team that struggled as much as the Magic.

Then again, it could be the kind of veteran move Cleveland could make to try to push its young core forward.

The Magic could put Wendell Carter in the deal to give the Cavaliers some cover for Jarrett Allen’s impending restricted free agency. But then again, why wouldn’t Cleveland just take Evan Mobley.

Piecing together a deal then becomes pretty difficult. Cleveland would clearly want to dump some salary in addition to picking up the draft assets. Maybe Ross or Carter is enough to get something done.

There is at least that framework.