The Orlando Magic are clearly still in the very early stages of another rebuild.
But for all the negatives that have contributed to the team’s 5-23 record, and there have been plenty, it does not tell the whole story.
Once again, injuries have ravaged the roster. Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac are yet to return and Jalen Suggs will be out for some time yet with a fractured thumb. Despite his difficult start, he had contributed a lot on the defensive end.
It might not look like it on the surface, but there has been plenty to be quietly pleased about.
Cole Anthony’s emergence as a 20-points-per-game scorer and the improvements in his jump shot since last season provide enormous hope for the future. And Franz Wagner has already established himself as someone that can be a key focus of this rebuild.
The return of, arguably, the team’s two best players in Fultz and Isaac will hopefully further add to that optimism.
Yes, this team has been very bad. But a deeper dive shows there is a clear pathway toward fighting for the playoffs again. But there are some pretty obvious weaknesses on the roster that must be addressed before the team can start to do that.
The Orlando Magic are off to a slow start but there are plenty of positive signs that things are on the right track. The team could target a few players to speed up their rebuild.
The Magic’s offense has simply run cold too often for the team to be any good, take the 23-0 Lakers run in the last game as an example. This team continues to lack scoring and shot creation, especially when the going gets tough.
This year was never about being good. The focus was always going to be on player development and getting better.
But nobody wants this team to be bad for a long time, and there must be steps implemented to improve the team’s weak spots and get back fighting for a postseason spot in the near future.
While a sensible strategy would be to bottom out this year, take the high pick and then really ramp up the rebuild next year, there are several trade possibilities out there right now that could accelerate the rebuild and increase the chances of future success.
It is also unlikely that any trade out there would seriously improve this team enough to threaten the high lottery odds this year that is so important for the big picture.
Orlando likely will not be looking to buy at this year’s deadline. The team will perhaps take a slower tack and grow methodically.
But no one in the league stands still.
The Magic should not completely rule out strengthening right now for fear of losing top lottery odds. With that in mind, here are four players Orlando could target to accelerate the rebuild.
3 players to speed up the Orlando Magic’s rebuild
Caris LeVert
The Indiana Pacers are headed toward a rebuild, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, with the team reportedly willing to listen to offers for Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Caris LeVert.
LeVert has had a difficult year.
After being traded to Indiana as part of the blockbuster James Harden deal last year, a cancerous tumor was discovered in his medicals. He had to undergo kidney surgery.
But the shooting guard would return last season to average 20.7 points per game across 35 games for the Pacers as the team narrowly missed out on the postseason.
LeVert at his best is a multi-level scorer that can punish teams from the perimeter, or use his quickness and athleticism to blow past opposition defenders to get to the rim and finish.
But LeVert has not been at his best this season.
After shooting a career-high 36.4 percent from three during the 2019-20 season, his shooting has regressed considerably and he is currently making just 30.2 percent of his threes this season — a worrying decline – while scoring only 15.7 points per game.
Still, LeVert would give the Magic a capable wing scorer and shooter, someone who can space the floor and go off for a big game. That is something the Magic are missing as a central piece to support growth.
LeVert may not be the best player to build a team around. But he would be a good stabilizing veteran for a young team as other players grow into bigger roles.
It was not all that long ago that LeVert was being dubbed as a possible third star behind Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, long before James Harden’s arrival. LeVert showed exactly what he is capable of in the Orlando Bubble when afforded plenty of opportunity due to injuries on the Nets’ roster.
He averaged 25 points in the bubble including a 37-point game against the Portland Trail Blazers and thrived with the increased number of shots and touches he was given.
And while inconsistency has proven a problem this season, some of his more recent performances have suggested LeVert could be getting back to his previous levels.
The Magic rank third from the bottom for offensive rating this season — scoring 102.5 points per 100 possessions. Even when injured players come back, there just does not appear to be enough offensive creation on the roster or the type of isolation scorer you need during difficult moments, like against the Lakers.
His shooting is a big concern. But LeVert has proven before he can handle the responsibility as the main scoring option and would get plenty of opportunity in Orlando.
He would not come cheap. Orlando would be the buyers in this situation and have to expend some of their young capital. LeVert too has an additional year at $18.8 million so he would not break the bank.
The Magic could use the Pacers’ desire to get younger and look to the future to move off some of the young players and extra picks the franchise has accumulated in recent years to get a more established veteran and proven contributor on offense.
This would be a move the Magic would make i they feel they can take a sizable leap next year. Something they may not be ready to say right now without a full evaluation of their roster.
3 players to speed up the Orlando Magic’s rebuild
Collin Sexton
When Collin Sexton was ruled out for the season in November following knee surgery, it was viewed as a massive blow to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ progression. But the team has since thrived, currently sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 17-12 record.
It has led to questions over whether Sexton will be a big part of the Cavs’ future, or whether the team should cash in on his value and build more around Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
Sexton has drawn criticism during his first three seasons in the NBA for his lack of defense and ability to create for the rest of his teammates. But his scoring talents cannot be ignored.
He averaged 24.3 points per game last season at the age of just 22 while shooting 37.1-percent from 3-point range. There are very few who can stop Sexton when he is at his peak due to his speed and explosiveness in getting to the basket and finishing.
Cole Anthony’s emergence as a scorer has helped, but the Magic still lack anyone that can consistently score 20-plus points per game night in and night out.
Sexton’s scoring ability would provide a considerable boost to an offense which, until there are considerable improvements by the team’s younger players, lacks reliable and multi-level scoring.
But Sexton has long been reported to be the subject of various trade discussions and is rumored to have attracted interest from across the league. Plenty of teams likely to be interested in Sexton have a lot more to offer than the Magic do.
At present, unless Orlando wants to give up its most promising rookies or high draft compensation — neither of which makes a lot of sense right now — Sexton is probably a step too far at this stage.
Orlando is also plenty full of point guards and small shooting guards with Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs occupying the position. Acquiring a player like Sexton would seemingly mean the Magic are not invested in some of their guards.
Especially since Sexton is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Orlando would be paying a premium for his restricted free agent rights and would almost have to re-sign him if this was their deal.
And that would almost require they sign him to a long-term deal.
Sexton is a player which makes a lot of sense for the team, but it really would require going all-in on bringing him to Orlando by sacrificing significant aspects of the front office’s future plans.
Sexton might increase the overall talent level of the roster. But it would be a major financial commitment to do so.
3 players to speed up the Orlando Magic’s rebuild
Cam Reddish
Cam Reddish has endured a frustrating first few years in the NBA. He played just 26 games last season due to injury problems and has not nailed down a place in the Atlanta Hawks’ starting five due to competition on the roster.
But when he plays, the promise he showed coming out of high school as one of the best players in his year has been evident. This year Reddish is averaging 11.2 points per game while shooting 40-percent from the field across an average of 22.5 minutes per game — down from 28.8 last season.
Reddish is incredibly talented and holds enormous potential as a two-way wing. His 3-point shot has improved since last year and he has also proven himself to be a solid wing defender thanks to his size and versatility.
It is no surprise then the swingman is attracting a lot of interest, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting that Atlana wants a first-round pick back in any deal involving Reddish.
Reddish still has a lot of developing to do and comes with inconsistencies in his game. But he can already make an impact on both ends of the court. Something the Magic lack is depth on the wing, and when starting forwards Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter are not on the court Orlando looks significantly worse.
Getting a two-way wing with high potential would not only ensure the team has greater depth in the short term. But he gives the Magic another young talent and potential future star to try and develop. In the right situation and with more opportunity, Reddish still has the opportunity to be special.
Atlanta would clearly want a healthy return on a player with such high potential but, given the amount of depth on the roster, they have to make some tough roster choices as to who will be the focus as the team looks to continue last season’s success. They simply cannot hand out extensions to everyone.
And while Reddish is one of Atlanta’s better defenders, the team has still struggled massively on the defensive end which has contributed to the team underperforming. The Hawks rank 25th for defensive rating, giving up 111 points per 100 possessions.
Something the Magic can offer is defensive help and picks. A veteran like Gary Harris would fill in perfectly on a playoff team like Atlanta.
Whether it is enough though is another matter.
The ultimate question is how quickly do the Magic want to progress, how much do they want to spend to pick things up and what is their ultimate strategy this season?
Orlando will face all these questions as the trade deadline nears.