Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2022: Preparing for the next steps
Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2022
Category 1 — Sure, you can have them
18. Ignas Brazdeikis (Two-way contract)
Every team probably has that one end-of-the-bench player who gets a few too many minutes and annoys fans with his excessive playing time. There is always that question of what they are doing on the roster.
Ignas Brazdeikis, to be fair to him, is not technically on the roster full-time (nor is he eligible to be traded) because of his two-way contract. But the Orlando Magic have definitely leaned on him too much. And fans hoping the Magic would have taken a chance on a younger player with their two-way contract slot.
Brazdeikis, to his credit, has been a really good G-League player. He is averaging 19.5 points per game in his two games for Lakeland. He has spent most of his time with the parent club, making 24 appearances for the Magic.
The reality is, Brazdeikis probably falls into the weird nexus of too good for the G-League, but not good enough for the NBA.
17. Janis Timma (G-League Contract/2nd Round Rights)
Orlando Magic fans fell in love with Janis Timma during Summer League. It was not merely his look, social media account or bravado. He actually backed it up with his play. Many fans were upset the team did not bring him in for training camp or for one of the two-way slots.
The reality is a bit more complicated than that.
Orlando likely did not have readymade playing time for him — something he reportedly was looking for at his age and experience level to make the leap to the NBA. The Magic were not likely to burn his second-round rights just to cut him at the end of training camp — or to bring him up on one of those emergency 10-day contracts.
Timma was in limbo until a few weeks ago when he signed on to join the Lakeland Magic. He has delivered for them, averaging 12.3 points per game in his three appearances so far in the G-League.
There is at least the possibility the Magic plan to graduate him to the main roster if a spot opens up. There might also be the possibility being in the G-League will make him enticing enough to be involved in a trade using his draft rights.
16. Admiral Schofield (Two-Way Contract)
The Orlando Magic swapped out two-way contracts a few weeks ago to bring in Admiral Schofield. This was a more proper move with a two-way contract and made sure to keep a player who was killing it in the G-League.
Schofield is averaging 29.5 points per game in his two appearances with the Lakeland Magic. The forward has good size to defend and is at least confident enough to shoot when he is open. He is young enough that there still seems like a ceiling for him to reach.
His time with the parent club has been solid too. Schofield is averaging 3.4 points per game in his 20 appearances with the Magic. When he gets sustained playing time, he usually produces. He at least knows where he is supposed to be. That can be half the battle.