5 targets for the Orlando Magic’s trade exception
Tristan Thompson, Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings seem set to go into firesale mode yet again.
Their blowout loss to the Boston Celtics earlier this week spoke to deeper troubles with the team. Even though they are still on the outskirts of the playoff race — three games out of the play-in tournament — the Kings seem to be sinking fast.
They are clearly looking to shop a few players.
Reportedly Tristan Thompson is available for the smallest of costs. Sacramento would probably prefer a second-round pick of a trade exception. And unless the Magic are already planning to move off of Mo Bamba and probably even Robin Lopez this offseason.
That might be premature to do in February. The Magic do not want to over-extend themselves in that way.
Thompson has had a rough season. He is averaging 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 15.2 minutes per game in 30 appearances for the Kings this year. He has not given the Kings the veteran presence they hoped for.
Thompson will become a free agent at the end of the season. So he becomes an immediate buyout candidate and nothing more.
The Magic need to have bigger ambitions with this trade exception. Anyone who is simply a buyout candidate without getting anything more, is not going to be worth the team.
The Kings are clearly looking for something of value in return, even if it is just a second-round pick. For the Magic to take on someone like Thompson and buy him out, they would need to get something for their trouble.
There probably is not a deal here. Even if Orlando is desperate to find a veteran somewhere to help keep the roster stable.
The reality for the Magic may well be that there are not good options to use this trade exception. It may be a tool Orlando lets lapse after the trade deadline. But crazier things have happened.