3 Orlando Magic players whose trade value decreased in 2023

With the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season officially in the books, now is a time to look back and reflect on what went right and wrong.

There were plenty of good moments, such as the true emergence of Markelle Fultz. But there were things that did not go to plan, such as the organization’s continued 3-point shooting woes and persistent injury issues.

Already we have taken a look at four players who saw their trade value increase in what was a season of improvement for the Magic. Players like Franz Wagner increasing their value even more league-wide.

But what about the players who saw their value trend in the other direction and who are not going to have many other teams enquiring about them? This was a successful season for the Magic, but not a straight line either. Several players did not meet expectations and have a questionable future for the team.

The Orlando Magic are celebrating what feels like a successful season. But it was not successful for everyone. There were quite a few players for the Magic who certainly saw their value decrease this season.

Thankfully for the Magic, this list is not only harder to put together, but features one less player as well. Further testament that head coach Jamahl Mosley is having a positive impact on this group.

Sadly though, there were some players who, if not completely left behind as the young roster improved, saw their value move in the wrong direction. Here are the three who unfortunately make the list.

3 Orlando Magic players who saw their trade value decrease

3. Cole Anthony

It is harsh for Cole Anthony to make this list. But we have to start somewhere and it again speaks to how well so many other players did over the course of the season that he is even here.

Fans might point to a player like Bol Bol who should be here instead. The center started the season incredibly well but faded badly as the year went on.

But when you consider where Bol was to begin the season, with negative trade value, then he clearly deserves to be on the list of players who saw their stock rise around the league.

By applying that same logic, Anthony’s value did not rise, as rival organizations were able to see in his third season just what the guard is able to bring to a team.

There is a ton of passion and intensity, but Anthony lacks the poise and long-term stability that Markelle Fultz has. And Jalen Suggs certainly has a much higher ceiling as a two-way player in the league.

The final nail in Anthony’s coffin here is the Magic will likely have two lottery picks this summer, and could use one of them on another guard.

Anthony is also entering the final year of his rookie deal and will be looking to get paid next summer. Figuring out just how much Anthony will expect as a free agent and what the Magic — or any team — is willing to pay is still a difficult thing.

This is a tough spot for the player, one that some will disagree with, and fans should certainly still be right behind him. But by process of elimination, and taking the future into account, Anthony makes this list.

3 Orlando Magic players who saw their trade value decrease

2. Chuma Okeke

If Cole Anthony’s inclusion here is tough, then the same cannot be said of Chuma Okeke. Last season was not a good one for him personally, and it felt like the rotation moved on without him.

This is a spot Mo Bamba once found himself in, and it is telling he is now with the Los Angeles Lakers and not playing there either.

On paper Okeke has value, and that is his ability to adequately guard scoring wings in the league.

But injuries limited Okeke to only 27 games in his third season (he will hit restricted free agency next summer), the fewest he has managed since entering the league.

Not only that, but he has to look on as Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero made the forward positions their own. Wagner especially looks like a future two-way wonder for the franchise. And with Jonathan Isaac now healthy and Bol Bol worth experimenting with, Chuma Okeke just does not have a lot of space in the rotation to take up.

Okeke is a career 32.3 percent 3-point shooter. Defensively, because of a lack of gametime, he is not improving at the rate that his potential once showed us he was capable of doing.

There is no doubt the Magic would trade Okeke if the price was right, but quite how low that price now is after a season spent in obscurity is unclear.

It flies under the radar. But Chuma Okeke is 24 years old, the same age as Markelle Fultz. And yet, any major leap forward has not looked like coming when he has been on the court.

3 Orlando Magic players who saw their trade value decrease

1. Jonathan Isaac

The obvious answer here, and it is a sad one, but this was the season where Jonathan Isaac’s trade value fell below zero.

The potential defensive menace was only able to manage 11 games on the court once he returned from a knee injury, before being forced to go under the knife again.

There is no need to put the boot in on Isaac anymore here. Every fan wishes him the best, and they would love it if he could one day show what he is capable of with the Magic over the course of a full season. A healthy summer might go a long way to re-establishing him on the floor permanently.

But with the number of injuries Isaac has now accumulated in six seasons (two of which he has missed entirely because of injury), no other team would trade for him believing he could be a consistent contributor.

The Magic certainly should not be making any future plans that hinge on Isaac’s health until he proves otherwise.

So let us try to frame this in a positive way, and end this unwanted list on a high. With Isaac’s trade value as low as it now is, the Magic might as well keep him around.

Anything they get out of him from this point on will be a bonus, and to give up on him now and get nothing of value in return doesn’t make any sense.

If Isaac can come back and give even 20 minutes a night off the bench, then that will be a boost to a rotation that will find a spot for him if he is able to get back on the court.

The reason for this? The Magic had the best defensive rating in the entire league in the 11 games he was on the court last year, so they might as well stick this out and see what kind of player Isaac is when he returns.