It has been a while since the Orlando Magic have been in a position to be aggressive at the trade deadline or thereabouts. That is at least what a lot of the national media are thinking when it comes to the Magic.
For the first time in a long time, there is a genuine buzz about what the Magic are building.
Everyone sees Paolo Banchero as a future star. They see Franz Wagner as potentially the best sophomore in the league. And there are several solid players everyone is recognizing.
On top of this, the team is winning more. They are already at their win total from last year and they are hanging around in the postseason chase. This is everything the Magic could have imagined for this season.
The Orlando Magic have accomplished a lot this season already. As the trade deadline arrives, the team’s future is in focus and it already looks like it has a strong base.
Orlando has indeed “leveled” up this season. If anything, that has driven the frustration over this team. Everyone expects or wants the Magic to level up again and make a real postseason push. That says more about what everyone sees as this team’s potential and how quickly they want them to reach it.
For sure, when we look ahead to the 2024 season, expectations are going to rise and things are going to change for this team once again. The trade deadline for many teams is about setting up the offseason. And that may well be what Orlando does this year as they look ahead to their next evolution next season.
The Magic are a team that is living in both worlds though. They have several expiring contracts and veteran players who may no longer fit the team’s long-term plans. But they should also have the ambition to try to improve their team in the short- and long-term to position themselves for a postseason run next year.
This is a fun and exciting place to be in as an organization. But also a dangerous one.
President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has consistently said he will not look to skip steps or seek the sugar high of a postseason berth before the team is ready. So do not expect the team to make some all-in move to make the Play-In Tournament.
Still, everyone knows change has to come. The Magic have to find a way to take a step forward. They have to find a way to improve their roster.
Orlando still has to assess its own roster as much as it has to start focusing on how to improve and who to target on the trade market and in free agency.
As we have done for the past several seasons, we are going to make that evaluation of the Magic’s roster by taking a page out of Bill Simmons’ book and ranking the players based on their trade value. This list asks pretty much, considering on-court production and contract status, who would you trade for and make out — i.e. you would trade No. 1 for No. 2 but not No. 2 for No. 1.
This list will show how difficult it is to assess the Magic’s players and find value on the market.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
Category I — Sure, you can have them
17. Admiral Schofield (Two-Way Contract)
Last Year: 16th
16. Kevon Harris (Two-Way Contract)
Let’s start this with the typical warning for the bottom of this list: Two-way players are ineligible for trades. Both Admiral Schofield and Kevon Harris get their write-ups here because they are on the roster and deserve mention.
But they deserve some credit and recognition. Because for the first time since the league added the two-way contract to the league’s rules, it feels like the Magic have gotten this right.
Every team comes with its own philosophy on how to use the two-way contract and the G-League affiliate. Honestly, every team is still figuring out the right way to make them valuable to the team. The Magic have taken to using Lakeland as a testing ground for some of their principles and as a good place to park players who need extra playing time or to rehab.
The two-way contracts have essentially been used as extra roster spots. They have given them to veteran G-League players who are clearly too good for the G-League but maybe not good enough to make their mark on the main roster.
That was at least part of the approach in keeping Admiral Schofield. He was a solid but unspectacular player for the Magic last year. He felt like a tweener who did not really fit anywhere.
This year, though, Schofield has found a better fit. He has improved his 3-point shooting and his versatility and commitment on defense made him a valuable player in several games earlier this season with all the injuries the Magic have faced.
Schofield has earned a better NBA look — probably a better one than Orlando can give him.
The real prize though is the second two-way player in Kevon Harris. This was a true find for the Magic and someone who has not only played well but made several impactful plays toward winning — just think of his play in the fourth quarter of the win over the Golden State Warriors at Amway Center.
It would not surprise me if the Magic’s plan is to try to open a roster spot at this deadline to convert Harris to a full contract. He has been that good.
Harris has solidified his NBA future somewhere.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
Category II — We don’t know what to do with them
15. R.J. Hampton (1-year, $2.4 million)
Last Year: 12th
The Orlando Magic probably sealed R.J. Hampton’s fate when they declined his player option and set him for free agency this offseason before the usual expiration of his rookie contract.
Hampton was simply a victim of a roster that is too overloaded with young players. The Magic did not have the time to play him regularly (minus the injuries early in the season). And they just never developed the trust in him that he would have his game under control.
It is an unfortunate circumstance because in the games he has played, Hampton has exhibited the control and composure the Magic were looking for. Or at least, he looked like he was trending in that direction for such a young player.
Hampton’s talent is undeniable. And that is on display every time he steps on the floor. But it has never really come together for him completely. Certainly not enough to erase his uneven sophomore season. And not enough for the Magic to prioritize developing him over the other young players on their roster.
Hampton has simply gotten lost in the shuffle and he does not have a body of work to make some other team believe in him to give up something of value.
14. Chuma Okeke (2-year, $8.7 million)
Last Year: 10th
Chuma Okeke is another player who is just a hard player to figure out. The only difference between him and R.J. Hampton at this point has been that Chuma Okeke actually has a decent-looking body of NBA work that could sell someone on him fitting in with a winning team.
His problem is just that he cannot stay healthy.
He deferred a year after college to recover from a torn ACL. He had a shin and ankle injury that slowed him in his rookie year. He was in and out of the lineup throughout his sophomore year. And this year, a knee injury has kept him out since Nov. 21.
It looks like Okeke is starting to ramp up his workload with an eye toward coming back. But like with Hampton, he enters a depth chart that is pretty full. And at forward, the Magic have most of their best players. It still feels like Okeke is the one getting squeezed out of the rotation.
But, the Magic know how good Okeke can be. He is a disruptive defender and a great help defender. His willingness to defend is a huge plus and a big boost for a young team.
And Okeke is at least still theoretically a good 3-point shooter — although his entire career he has been extremely streaky swinging wildly from game-changing shooter to can’t hit anything.
13. Caleb Houstan (4-year, $8.2 million, non-guaranteed in 2025, team option in 2026)
Caleb Houstan may be the smaller and healthier version of Chuma Okeke. So much so that the Orlando Magic could easily do a salary dump trade of Terrence Ross or a straight buyout not only to open up a roster spot but also to try to get Caleb Houstan more playing time.
There is a lot to like with Houstan.
It starts with his shooting where he is shooting 36.4 percent for the season. In his last run of play from Dec. 23 to Jan. 10, Houstan made eight of his 20 3-pointers. He needed his time in Lakeland just to stay sharp and get some time on the court. But his 3-point shot is starting to come along.
Houstan’s real value though comes on defense. He has looked sharp on defense, understanding his role in the defensive schemes and being a solid help-side defender to get some deflections and steals.
It is clear the Magic really like Houstan. They certainly seem him as a prospect they can keep developing and growing.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
Category III — Make a BIG offer
12. Mo Bamba (2-year, $20.6 million, non-guaranteed in 2024)
Last Year: 8th
The Orlando Magic have plenty of size and length to go around. Yet, it still feels like something is missing on the interior. There are even some questioning Wendell Carter’s long-term viability despite how solid he is overall (and the fact he is playing through a plantar fascia injury).
But Orlando’s lack of rim protection and interior presence is noted. It is perhaps the biggest disappointment from this team and the way its young center has developed.
Former Magic general manager Rob Hennigan observed that you typically have a good sense of who a player is by the end of their rookie contract. Let the first year after his rookie contract expired set the record for Mo Bamba.
Bamba has not become the shot-blocking, 3-point shooting dynamo his talent seemed to promise. Instead, Bamba will still have some strong offensive games but he is largely ineffective in the paint. Yes, he is able to block some shots and can be tough to finish around, but his ability to diagnose and react to plays quickly is poor and he is not a strong rebounder.
Bamba has simply not worked out for this team as intended. And now he has fallen completely out of the rotation.
A new coach in Jamahl Mosley helped him have a career season last year. Now it feels like he needs a change of scenery more than anybody. Unfortunately for the Magic, the rest of the league likely knows his shortcomings. He is not going to fetch a ton on the market, even with a lot of teams needing a backup big.
11. Moe Wagner (1-year, $1.9 million)
Last Year: 13th
Moe Wagner can oscillate between “what is he doing out there” to “every team needs a guy who can get under a team’s skin” to “this guy is just so skilled it is hard not to play him.” And that can all happen within one game.
Wagner has put himself in the team’s rotation and clearly has earned it. Entering Sunday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Wagner was averaging 18.5 points per game in the previous four games. That shows the skill Wagner has on the block and his ability to finish and get to the line — 7.3 free throw attempts per game in that span.
Wagner though clearly should be the third-string center.
That is the conundrum for the Magic. Wagner rates as one of the worst rim protectors in the league — entering Sunday’s game, opponents shoot 77.3 percent at the rim against Wagner according to data from Second Spectrum, the worst mark among centers who average at least 15.0 minute per game.
Wagner is good at taking charges — he leads the team with eight charges drawn this year — and positions himself well even if he cannot do much above the rim.
It makes sense to keep Wagner around as an emergency backup. He gives the team a good edge too.
10. Bol Bol (2-year, $4.4 million, 2024 non-guaranteed)
Bol Bol has been perhaps the biggest revelation of the Orlando Magic’s season. He is certainly the biggest surprise.
The guy the team sent a lifeline to at least year’s trade deadline has turned into a major find.
That is, of course, because Bol worked himself back to health so he could play and contribute more regularly. And because the Magic had the space to let him make mistakes and play through them. This was a real opportunity in a low-pressure situation. And Bol has delivered.
Bol is a unique player who defenses do not quite know what to do with all the time. He can work off the dribble and finish on the move going toward the basket. He has a ton of offensive skill. And with his length, he can potentially be a strong shot blocker.
The more he has played though, and the more the pressure in Orlando toward winning has ramped up, his flaws have become apparent.
He is not quick laterally nor strong enough to defend the post. That puts the Magic’s defense in a bind. Offensively, he is almost exclusively looking for his shot. And if it is working, he is devastating and unique. When it is not, he floats around the perimeter and is not much of a threat.
On one hand, the Magic should consider this Bol’s rookie year. He deserves the opportunity to work on his game this offseason and see if he can improve.
But the Magic are also going to change their focus soon. And Bol has shown enough that he could very well have a market if the Magic want to include him in a trade. Bol is quietly a name to watch before the deadline.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
Category IV — You Better be Serious
9. Terrence Ross (1-year, $11.5 million)
Last Year: 6th
Terrence Ross is the most likely player the Orlando Magic will deal at Thursday’s deadline. Teams certainly want the Magic to open up negotiations for Gary Harris, but that feels less likely. Ross is the most available.
And that has largely been the case since the offseason when Ross made it public that he had discussions with the Magic about his future and would like to be on a contender or move on from a rebuilding team.
The Magic never found a deal. They needed a veteran to hang around and be good around the young players. Ross is not the type to cause waves. He likes being in Orlando even if his professional desires are elsewhere.
Even with Orlando being inconsistent with his playing time — especially recently where he has not played in the last eight games — the Magic have been hesitant to just give him away. They clearly like having him around.
But the Magic have moved on from Ross even though he is still on the roster.
The thing is though, Ross has played well. He has recovered from what was a career-worst season in 2022 to a pretty solid season in 2023. He is averaging only 8.0 points per game, but he is shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. He is obviously not doing it at volume. But Ross seems to be back to a standard level.
His expiring contract will make him valuable. Especially for a team that needs that last shooting boost heading into the postseason. And the Magic are certainly fine getting something for him — although it seems like the priority is to get him somewhere Ross wants to be, even if that means waiting for a buyout.
8. Cole Anthony (2-years, $9.2 million)
Last Year: 5th
It has been a roller coaster for Cole Anthony. Year-to-year, game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter sometimes.
Anthony’s scoring acumen is unquestioned. When he is on, he is a dynamo able to put up points in a hurry. But getting him to be consistent has been the issue. That is why he did not seem to work out as a starter. And the big question for him as he moves into a sixth-man role.
No doubt, Anthony’s run this year has been extremely up and down. Right now, Anthony is playing incredibly well. He is averaging 14.2 points per game on 51.9-percent shooting and 50.0-percent from deep in his last six games.
That is obviously a big high for Anthony. It would be asking a lot for him to stay at that level. But Anthony has flipped several games in the Magic’s favor just by being this kind of a sparkplug for the team.
The thing is, even though his scoring is down to 12.1 points per game from 16.3 last year, his efficiency is up. he is shooting a career-best 44.3 percent from the floor and even though his 3-point shooting still hovers around 33 percent overall, he is only taking 3.3 3-point attempts per game, showing his willingness to stay aggressive and attack.
Anthony has improved a ton. But that is not quieting any of the questions.
Anthony represents the first big decision of this phase in the Magic’s rebuild. He is extension eligible this offseason and it is not clear how much the Magic are willing to commit to him.
Anthony has made it clear how much he feels he is worth. And he is absolutely correct to state and to believe he is a starter in this league, even as he embraces his sixth-man role. The question is will the Magic be willing to pay him like a starter or will they need to think about their future without him?
That is not a pressing question at this trade deadline.
For now, the Magic are going to watch to see if this role suits him and if he can continue this stellar play more consistently. Then comes the decision point this offseason where Anthony could either be a player the Magic commit further to with an extension or they look to package and shop in the offseason.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
Category V — At Long Last
7. Jonathan Isaac (3-Years, $52.2 million, non-guaranteed in 2024 and 2025)
Last Year: 4th
The number one question for anyone associated with the Orlando Magic for the last two years has been when will Jonathan Isaac see the court again.
There is certainly a bit of the thought of so much with the Magic was tied to Isaac for so long and for it to disappear was just puzzling. As was the long time it took for Isaac to get back on the floor.
But so much of that mystery was a curiosity of whether this supremely talented and unique player still had it. Whether he could still contribute to the team.
The Magic’s roster might have moved on some from Jonathan Isaac, replacing the necessity for the team’s future with the drafting of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to occupy the forward spots in successive years, but Isaac is still a fascinating addition and someone who can change the game defensively.
He already seems to be doing it even in his limited minutes and clearly being a step off from where he was before his injury. Isaac still has a long way to go in his recovery to fully return to the court — without restrictions and with full confidence in what he can do.
It is frankly amazing that Isaac is still so effective.
Isaac does not have much trade value at this year’s deadline as he still gets himself all the way back. But it is also clear how much talent he still has and how much potential he still could have as an ace defender and floor spacer.
Suddenly potential matters more.
6. Markelle Fultz (2-years, $33.5 million)
Last Year: 9th
At this point last year, Markelle Fultz was still waiting to return from his torn ACL and knee injury. Nobody quite knew what he would look like and his lone full season of data was promising but not enough to go on.
Fultz was still all potential — and so much of his potential that made him the top overall pick was already pretty much gone. There were still people who wanted to judge him on that standard.
That is not who Fultz is. Not anymore.
But still, the flashes show up. They showed up in the final run of the season after the All-Star Break in the limited minutes he played after his injury. and they are showing up now that he has fully taken over as the starter once again and gotten extended time on the court.
Fultz’s numbers do not show his full impact on the floor. And he is getting more comfortable and better running this team, after missing training camp with a toe injury.
Fultz works in intangible ways, controlling the pace to his liking, picking his moments to score and getting the team moving. There are still flaws the team will have to consider — and like Cole Anthony, his contract status will come into question in the offseason and into next season.
But Fultz has played great and feels indispensable to the Magic’s success this season. Orlando might value him more than other teams right now. But Fultz is proving himself worth it.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
5. Jalen Suggs (3-Years, $23.4 million, Team Option for 2025)
Last Year: 3rd
Jalen Suggs is on one hand still the salvation for this team. The guy everyone cheered for when he supposedly slipped to the team at fifth in the 2021 NBA Draft. He was the dynamic guard who could attack off the dribble and be the offensive driver the team hoped for.
The reality has been that Suggs is an often out-of-control guard who is going a million miles a minute and struggles to shoot from beyond the arc. Without a consistent outside shot, it is tough for any guard to carve their spot in this league.
Then again. . . Suggs was always a strong defender. The Magic shouted to everyone who could hear that their internal metrics had Suggs as one of the best defenders in the league. That was always something they could come back to.
And then he just needed to be healthy after missing so much of his rookie year — and then again a good chunk of his second year with ankle issues.
So what is Suggs? Everyone wants to know.
The shot is definitely not there — he is shooting just 29.7 percent from beyond the arc although his mid-range shooting is up to 40.7 percent on pull-ups and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc on pull-ups. That improvement is noteworthy. There is something Suggs can continue to build on.
But that is the mirage of youth. That is what everyone talks themselves into.
What everyone is really buying from Jalen Suggs is that he looks like a Marcus Smart-type defender. Someone who can get after players and be a completely disruptive force. Now that he is looking healthier for this Magic team, that defense has come to the forefront. And it has energized the team and elevated them in his minutes — even without the consistent shot.
Suggs is still young enough that everyone can talk themselves into that potential. And that defense is enough to get him on the floor and playing a role. Sugg is embracing that role more and more.
The question is how much better he will get. And that is why you do not give up on him quite yet.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
4. Gary Harris (2-Years, $26 million, Non-Guaranteed in 2024)
Last Year: 7th
Gary Harris is in this position not because he is better necessarily than the players who are behind him. Gary Harris is arguably someone who should be coming off the bench based on talent if Jalen Suggs figures himself out.
Still, Harris is super important because he is a fantastic shooter. And that is something the Magic are lacking.
Harris has a skill the Magic cannot replicate anywhere. He is a great defender and a knockdown shooter, even flirting with a 50/40/90 season for good measure.
That is why Harris is ranked so high. Because this is the player everyone around the league believes they can get from the Magic and the player the Magic should be most hesitant to trade.
Every deal we have pitched on this site and most Magic fans have pitched have sought shooting most of all. We all recognize Terrence Ross is likely on his way out. That is what makes Harris even more valuable.
He is the prize teams have to vie for to get the Magic to move and deal and Harris has so much value to make everyone else on the roster better for this team.
His return to the lineup has boosted the offense — the Magic have a 115.0 offensive rating with Harris on the floor, the best mark on the entire team. That alone is enough to make him super valuable.
On top of that, he is a solid individual defender. If the Magic trade Harris, they will be looking for a player who will do the exact things Harris does.
Still, his value on this trade market is undeniable. He has that extra year remaining giving the acquiring team both the rest of this season and next year to extract value. If the Magic are going to sell high, this is the time to do it. And that is why he is ranked so high here.
if the Magic made Harris available, there would be a ton of teams willing to offer plenty of value to get him. It just does not seem like the Magic are ready to do this because Harris is so important to this team.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
3. Wendell Carter (4-years, $50 million)
Last Year: 2nd
Like Markelle Fultz and even Gary Harris, Wendell Carter’s value usually comes in unseen ways. He is an excellent screener — actually ranking 4.4 screen assists per game, ninth in the league.
That just hints at his hidden value as an offensive hub that just greases the wheel.
That goes for his defense too.
He is an excellent positional defender, a big who can get out on the perimeter and switch onto guards and forwards and defend the paint, even if he is not a shot blocker.
Carter is a solid offensive player too. His jumper has taken some incredible strides and he is smart at picking when to shoot from deep and when to attack off the dribble or when to post up. There are just a few big men with his ability to work on the perimeter and even dish the ball. Carter works as a hub offensively.
There is just so much the team can do working around him.
And he is doing it all right now while dealing with a plantar fascia strain that is clearly slowing him down. If anybody needs an All-Star break to recover and get set for the stretch run, it is Carter. He needs to get his foot right to move with the same explosiveness that makes him such an interesting player.
At this point, Carter may not be spectacular, but he gives the team maturity and stability. He will make the right decisions and spring free his teammates to get downhill and toward the basket. That is the team’s identity.
Carter’s extremely team-friendly deal — his contract is completely front-loaded and ends at $10.9 million in the 2026 season. That is going to become valuable as the team looks to add more players to its team and hands out big contracts to its draft picks. It could also make him attractive as a future trade asset — especially if the Magic do make that all-in trade eventually.
For now, Carter is the solid big man that anchors their defense. He fits the switching mentality the Magic want to play with. He is the perfect fit as the big man for this stage of the rebuild and can be interchangeable for whatever the Magic look like next.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
2. Franz Wagner (3-Year, $17.8 million, Team Option for 2025)
Last Year: 1st
Franz Wagner took the Orlando Magic by storm last year. Nobody saw the rookie forward from Michigan becoming a future franchise player.
The wrap on him coming out of college was that he was a glue guy who could make others around him better and fit into the system. Everyone saw him as a player who would be a supporting player as a shooter. He was never this in Michigan. Not even close to this.
And he was not even close to what he has become his sophomore year as he has flirted with averaging 20 points per game and has genuinely looked like a future All-Star.
If anything, the Magic need to convince him to take more control and take the reigns more.
The injuries to the point guards hurt this team in the win column without a doubt. The Magic just could not get themselves organized.
But it had some benefit because it forced the Magic to put the ball in Wagner’s hands more and make him into the 6-foot-10 playmaker everyone thinks he can be. The Magic are trying to recreate some of that and use him more as the ball-handler, able to get downhill, make the right reads and finish with flair around the basket.
Wagner has taken the league by surprise and would have been the most likely All-Star for the Magic this year if the team had a better record.
What has been so amazing about Wagner’s season so far is the consistency he brings regardless of the circumstances around him.
Orlando feels like it has a future franchise pillar in Wagner and he should continue to get better as his career develops.
2023 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column
1. Paolo Banchero (4-Years, $50.2 million, Team Options for 2025 and 2026)
What is there to say about Paolo Banchero? What more needs to be said that is not just going to be said on the court and develop naturally?
Banchero may be hitting the rookie wall of late, but that rookie wall is still 22 points and 10 rebounds. Those are his bad games at times. Banchero is starting to learn how to attack double teams and impact the game beyond scoring.
But Paolo Banchero is doing things no Magic rookie has done since Shaquille O’Neal was here.
He has not quite changed the franchise’s fortunes as immediately as O’Neal did, but Banchero has certainly elevated this team.
There is a reason the team has already matched its win total from last year and talks openly and seriously about making a postseason push even after a 5-20 start.
That is because of internal growth and careful management from coach Jamahl Mosley, but it is also because Banchero soaks up so much attention and is so effective despite it.
He was the number one pick for a reason and is almost shoo-in to win Rookie of the Year already.
Banchero is a franchise player. That seems like a conclusion everyone can make already. And that is something the Magic have not truly had in a decade since Dwight Howard left.
Nothing more really needs to be said.