5 reasons for Orlando Magic fans to be thankful this Thanksgiving

3. They have legitimate trade assets

Having real trade assets in today’s NBA is a huge plus, and the Orlando Magic have several players who other teams would be interested in.

Terrence Ross and Gary Harris are two veteran shooters who could help playoff groups and genuine contenders alike. Imagine what either of those could do to help a stuck-in-the-mud offensive team like the Los Angeles Lakers?

Mo Bamba has repaired his trade value, after looking like a sunk cost to end last season. Both he and the Magic deserve credit for that, and if Wendell Carter and Bol Bol are to continue getting the bulk of the minutes for the franchise, then the fact Bamba now has some worth around the league is a plus that did not look likely to start the season.

Chuma Okeke is another whose size and defensive skills would be of interest around the league, but all indications are that the Magic are happy to keep him right now. R.J. Hampton has failed to get going down in Florida, yet others would surely take a flier on the 21-year-old. Especially with how Hampton has looked in his limited minutes.

But all of these players are dancing around the emerging elephant in the room.

Markelle Fultz will return soon and when he does, then what?

Jalen Suggs is becoming a confident starting guard, while Cole Anthony also deserves his share of minutes.

Fultz will get a chance to run this team, and maybe even come off the bench to see if it works. Yet even though there is little guard depth on the roster at the moment, Fultz (or maybe even Anthony) may become trade assets before long.

Then there is Jonathan Isaac, who will also be back and who will join a group after more than two seasons off the court. Amazingly, both he and Fultz have been gone for so long that Wagner may have more actual NBA experience than them when that happens.

Isaac could be amazing, the missing piece bridging past and future. Or he could get in the way, making a trade involving him possible.

Either way, the Magic are well-positioned to make moves. They have zero onerous contracts thanks to the various levels of guaranteed money on the contracts they have signed recently — Isaac’s deal, for instance, is only partially guaranteed for the remaining three years of his deal.

The Magic are set up to be nimble when the team is ready to enter the trade market as a buyer.

No matter what, we have to consider the following too: The Magic are likely to have two more lottery picks (their own and one from the Chicago Bulls) next summer.

There simply is not enough room to keep everybody happy.

But with so many players outlined as viable trade candidates, imagine what packaging the bulk of them and some picks would get you? The next disgruntled star, and the Magic being in future conversations for guys like that is a real reason to be happy.