Improving a Jordan Poole trade idea for the Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic offseason: Reopening Jordan Poole discussions

The original trade proposal

Jordan Poole will make $28.7 million in the first season of his new contract extension next season. That is a big price tag to including a trade.

But the Orlando Magic will have cap space this summer so they are not obligated to fully match salary to make a deal work. They can send back less salary than Poole is making and absorb the difference into cap space.

It is important than to understand team goals. For the Magic it would be to add a shooter and offensive weapon in Poole. For the Golden State Warriors, it would be adding a player who can contribute to a championship-level team while also reducing their overall payroll — and thus their tax bill.

Here is the deal proposed by Fanspo:

That reality is one reason this proposed trade by Fanspo does not make much sense, as it adds $5.6 million to the Warriors’ luxury tax bill.

Other than the money, this deal immediately has another major problem.

Poole might be a starter, or he might be a high-end backup. Either way, the Magic love Markelle Fultz, and he has rounded into form as a solid starter, a great passer and defender even if his shot never fully develops.

The Magic want to keep Fultz, and the Warriors likely do not want him very much. Their system on offense is built around floor spacing, and with Draymond Green and Kevon Looney as rotation stalwarts, the Warriors would find it difficult to play Fultz heavy minutes. They would rather have a wing of some sort.

If the Magic want to keep Fultz, and the Warriors do not want Fultz but instead would love shooting and defense on the wing, perhaps we can tweak this deal a bit for both sides to be happier.