The NBA Draft is this week. Teams are assessing their rosters to add talent and set up their offseasons. This is a deadline to create movement within the league.
And the rumor mill is already churning with Bradley Beal already preparing to swap teams moving from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns.
The Orlando Magic front office has been somewhat quiet since the 2021 trade deadline. That does not mean the team isn’t looking for ways to improve.
The Magic have momentum heading into the upcoming season after a solid 50 games to end last year. The young core will look to take another leap while clinching the playoffs will be a priority.
Orlando has several assets consisting of team-friendly contracts, cap space, draft picks and promising young players. Whether the team is looking to wait another year to start acquiring win-now veterans or wants to expedite their contention window remains to be seen.
The team could look to stand pat and select three rookies on Thursday night, but I break down what trades the team could do to solidify their rotation prior to free agency and training camp.
The Orlando Magic have a chance to make some real action this offseason and solidify their team. As the draft approaches, there are several directions they could go with trades.
The Magic remain fairly coy about what they will do in this draft, while president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has acknowledged the conversations he is naturally having around the league. With the sixth and 11th picks, the Magic are viewed around the league as a team that could create some action.
The question is about what the Magic want to do and which opportunities arise.
The Magic have a multitude of directions they can pivot, Weltman will have difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks.
It seems several players have solidified their place on the roster and can be deemed almost untouchable. But in the NBA everyone has their price.
Orlando is one of the few teams with cap space this summer too. But the roster is still solidified with young talent throughout the depth chart. Trading for veteran players will inevitably take minutes from current Magic players which in turn could hinder their development.
This offseason is one of the more exciting that Magic fans have had in years, and I mainly focus on finding complementary players who can propel the team on both ends of the floor.
I break down the article into four trade directions where the Magic can move during Thursday’s draft.
4 Directions the Orlando Magic can go with trades on draft night
Acquisition of a Young Star
Brooklyn Nets
Mikal Bridges would fit this Orlando Magic roster perfectly.
He is 26 years old and is one of the best movement shooters in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets made him the primary scorer in their last 27 games and he produced.
Bridges averaged 26.1 points per game and shot 37.6% from three on 6.7 attempts per game. He is shooting a lot of shots but also at great percentages.
He shot almost 19 shots per game but was 17th in the NBA in points per game after the All-Star break. Bridges is the real deal.
Orlando would be acquiring a starting shooting guard at 6-foot-6 who will make the starting unit a tall and athletic group. Oftentimes they would have the ability to switch everything on defense and expose matchups on offense. And Bridges has already proven himself a solid complementary piece and defender with the Phoenix Suns.
This would be where the Magic push in their chips to acquire a borderline All-Star. He can play complementary basketball spreading the floor for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner but also carry a lot of the offense. Bridges also would still be under contract until the 2026 season if acquired.
Opposing teams would have a difficult time trying to guard the starting unit and could become one of the best starting units in the NBA.
The decision ultimately is determined by which direction the Brooklyn Nets are headed. The team is mismatched with win-now veterans and young talent like Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson (a restricted free agent), Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas.
Unfortunately, the dreadful Ben Simmons contract gives them little wiggle room to bolster their current roster and the first-round picks they acquired in the Kevin Durant deal with the Phoenix Suns are looking to be late first-rounders.
That is not an ideal starting point to compete at the highest level amongst the NBA’s powerhouses.
If the Nets decide that they need to officially rebuild this would be a great offer for them. They acquire two lottery picks this year and a former fifth overall selection in Jalen Suggs.
The deal would give Brooklyn a young core to rebuild with and restart their process of acquiring draft capital.
The Magic might need to give up more draft assets to solidify Brooklyn’s interest, but Bridges would be one of the better players to add to this Orlando team.
Portland Trail Blazers
This trade gives the Portland Trail Blazers a multitude of options. They can trade their three picks in the top 11 to find stars to complement Damian Lillard, or they can trade Lillard to fully rebuild and draft three lottery picks.
It seems like Lillard prefers to stay in Portland according to Sports Illustrated, but the team still has to make significant changes. They finished bottom three in the Western Conference and do not have many proven players that can help Lillard push for the playoffs.
If both Lillard and Portland decide that it is best for Lillard to chase a title elsewhere, a trade could be imminent.
According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, the Blazers have released a rumored statement that Shaedon Sharpe is untouchable in trade discussions, but have not left out starting shooting guard, and Altamonte Springs-native, Anfernee Simons.
His contract is the biggest impediment to a deal, but he is a scorer the Magic could rely on to boost a lagging offense.
He averaged 21.1 points per game last year and can create his own shot. But he has also shown flashes of facilitating for others averaging 4.1 assists per game as well.
Simons is only 24 years old but has played five seasons in the NBA. He can gel with Orlando’s starting unit as a primary shot creator, movement shooter, and active passer.
He shot 9.1 threes 3-point attempts per game last year. That number would account for 29 percent of Orlando’s threes they take as a team combined. Simons would bring instant offense and a 38.7 percent career three-point percentage.
Orlando would be giving up a significant amount of assets to acquire Simons, but they would keep a large part of their core together and continue on their way to compete with the best teams in the league.
If Portland were to make this deal they would have to be busy on draft night to trade all three lottery picks to find help for Lillard, but it can be done.
4 Directions the Orlando Magic can go with trades on draft night
Acquisition of Draft Capital
Miami Heat
As one of the few teams with cap room, the Orlando Magic could also be in a position to start hoarding draft capital, taking on some lengthy contracts but getting draft capital in the process.
Then again, the Magic seem poised to make a postseason push and have vocally valued their flexibility. So it may not make sense to add more draft picks to an already crowded roster or take on big salaries.
Still, this is a path to walk and one worth discussing and exploring.
In the proposed deal above, Magic agree to make this trade to absorb Duncan Robinson’s contract. The Miami Heat would pair Duncan Robinson with Nikola Jovic, their first-round pick last year, and their 18th pick on Thursday.
Robinson’s contract is fully guaranteed for the next two seasons paying him $18 million next year and $19.4 million the following season. The contract simply does not justify the product on the court, and that is why the Heat have to give up more assets to move him. They have to use a first-round pick to sweeten the pot.
Robinson had a down year for the team and barely cracked the rotation for most of the season, but was called on during Miami’s playoff run with the injury to Tyler Herro.
But Robinson has a skillset that the Magic desperately need: Shooting. He is a 39.9 percent career three-point shooter and can be a spark plug off the bench to help spread the floor for Orlando’s offense.
The Magic only makes this deal if they feel that either Cole Anthony or Jalen Suggs can contribute in the starting lineup or they can find a replacement for Gary Harris in free agency.
It would be a tough pill to swallow to trade Harris off of his historic season shooting the basketball, but acquiring another first round pick might be too enticing if the team does not quite feel ready to take that next step.
Orlando is in a great position to take on a large contract from a contender looking to clear cap space. The Heat are finishing a Finals run and will look to find star pieces to compete for the title next to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo next season.
Orlando could be a team that helps facilitate a three-team trade if Miami is trying to get Damian Lillard. Then again, the Magic have often been loathe to help the Heat, a direct division rival.
Dallas Mavericks
This would be a salary dump by the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is in a difficult position this offseason after not making the playoffs last year.
The team has two large contracts in particular that rarely suited up for the team last season. Enter Davis Bertans and JaVale McGee.
Bertans played 10.9 minutes per game and only played in 45 games while battling a calf injury. McGee played in 42 games this season at a mere 8.5 minutes per game in his first year with the Mavericks. Dallas can afford to move on from both.
The Magic would be taking on two fully guaranteed contracts from both players totaling a whopping $22.7 million.
However, the following season Bertans can be waived and is only guaranteed $5 million of his contract and McGee has a player option but it is a modest $6 million in the final year of the deal.
If the Magic are willing to take on salary to acquire the 10th overall pick then making this call would be easy.
It would be an added benefit if Bertans looked ready to play at the start of training camp and finds a role off the bench. He is a career 39.8 percent shooter from three after all.
Dallas can waive Jonathan Isaac’s contract and only pay him $7.6 million. Bol Bol also has a fully non-guaranteed salary. The Mavs would save $15.1 million in salary by offloading their first-round pick.
Orlando would be willing to take on more money this season for a chance at another top-10 selection.
This path seems the least likely as the Magic have valued their financial flexibility and do not seem to have enough roster space to add too many draft picks.
4 Directions the Orlando Magic can go with trades on draft night
Bench Shooting Targets
Chicago Bulls
Here, the Orlando Magic would be trading away their best three-point shooter in Gary Harris and bringing in 21-year-old Patrick Williams. That might help balance the roster some while giving the Magic a promising young shooter and versatile defender off the bench.
Williams had a great year in Chicago playing all 82 games and shooting 41.5 percent from three.
On the outside it does not look like the Chicago Bulls do this deal. But they would be receiving their own lottery pick that they traded away two years ago. The Bulls would give themselves a first-round pick this year and in 2025 while giving up only one pick in 2024.
That is certainly a lot though. Giving up a starter and a first-round pick in a solid draft — the 2024 Draft class is not expected to be good — is probably a price too high. It shows how difficult it can be to execute trades.
It is easy to see why the Bulls would do this trade as they aim to compete in the Eastern Conference with their veteran roster.
The Magic only make this move if they feel they can acquire a starting shooting guard at the No. 6 overall pick, in free agency or if they believe Jalen Suggs or Cole Anthony are ready for a larger role. A deal like this would hint that there are bigger moves the Magic are making room for.
Williams would be one of Orlando’s best bench players and can continue to grow with the young roster toward contention.
Having depth at either forward spot for the Magic will be a priority, as their former backup power forward Moe Wagner is an unrestricted free agent and Jonathan Isaac is unreliable from a health standpoint.
That might be a reason not to give up a pick in this draft even if Williams is a steadier hand.
The incumbent backup small forward, Caleb Houstan, showed flashes last season but competition certainly will not hurt.
The Magic would be banking on the fact that the Bulls will give them another high draft pick next year. If Orlando does not have any prospects they like at No. 11 overall, they can wait until next year to retry their lottery luck.
Cleveland Cavaliers
This deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is small but will add a capable shooter to the Orlando Magic bench. Cedi Osman is a 28-year-old veteran who can play small forward and possibly power forward in smaller lineups at 6-foot-7.
He shot 37.2 percent from three last year on 4.1 threes per game. That would make him the second-best shooter in the rotation behind Gary Harris.
Cedi Osman would battle with Caleb Houstan for rotation minutes, but having a plethora of floor-spacers will only benefit the Magic heading into next season.
Orlando would be trading the 36th pick for a second-round selection in two years and would be willing to move on from this pick if they determine they only want to bring in two rookies at the 6th and 11th overall selections.
Okeke has been with the Magic long enough for the front office to fully assess his longevity with the team. It seems like it is time to move on as he is on the outside of the rotation looking in.
Cleveland would be acquiring a cheaper and younger player who can defend the wing and compete for minutes.
4 Directions the Orlando Magic can go with trades on draft night
More Bench Shooting
Detroit Pistons
The Orlando Magic already have several positions within the depth chart that seem like a lock, but the bench can retool and add more pieces.
Bol Bol began last season on a tear and a potential nominee for Most Improved Player. But his hot streak started to fizzle toward the end of the season. He was exposed as a weak defender lacking the strength to guard his position and his shot stopped falling.
Bol’s contract is fully non-guaranteed next season, so if the Detroit Pistons made this deal they could open a roster spot. The Pistons have money to spend with only one player making more than $13 million per year, so if they want to create space for younger players they can do so with this trade.
They certainly could be a spot where Bol could play and make mistakes while he continues to learn.
Detroit would be moving on from Isaiah Livers not so much to acquire Bol Bol, but for another draft pick this year. The 36th overall selection has value at the top of the second round, and if the Pistons see players they like at that position this deal doesn’t ask for too much to give up.
Livers, a 42nd overall selection, has made a name for himself in his first two years with the Pistons.
He shot 36.5 percent from three this year and is a career 37.8 percent shooter. He is strong at 230 pounds and can play either forward position on defense.
The Magic would be getting a shooter who plays hard and is set to turn 25 this summer. He would be another former Michigan Wolverine to add to this Orlando team and would be a low-risk acquisition.
If Livers were to play well for Orlando he would be a restricted free agent the following season the team would have the option to re-sign.
Indiana Pacers
The Orlando Magic would be making a similar deal as the one above with the Detroit Pistons to acquire a bench shooter at the forward position.
Jordan Nwora was excellent for the Indiana Pacers after they acquired him from the Milwaukee Bucks at last season’s trade deadline.
In his 24 games with Indiana, he shot 42.2 percent from the 3-point line. He is 6-foot-8 and has a quick release that he can get off over smaller defenders and prefers to shoot from the corners. Nwora would be an excellent acquisition to be the eighth or ninth man for this Magic roster.
Nwora is an unrestricted free agent next summer so Orlando would take on a flight risk. But the team also will have plenty of cap space to retain a player like Jordan at the roster’s current state.
The Magic would also be taking on Daniel Theis’s $9.1 million contract for this season. Theis would probably not see many minutes, but the 31-year-old has contributed on playoff teams and has a club option the following season. If he is healthy, he would help solve some of the Magic’s backup center issues.
Cap space flexibility is essential in the NBA and having the option to clear $9.5 million off their books after one year with Theis has value.
Orlando would also be moving up 10 selections from their current 36th overall pick to find another first-round selection to grow within the organization.
The team would give up two players out of the rotation, but the Pacers would not agree to this deal based on the acquisition of Chuma Okeke and Bol Bol.
According to sources, Indiana has been rumored this offseason in acquiring a high-caliber veteran forward to pair with their young backcourt of star Tyrese Haliburton and first-team rookie selection Bennedict Mathurin.
If the Pacers want to clear some cap space by giving up a late first-rounder and Nwora to free themselves of Theis’s contract then this would not be a bad deal for them.
The Indiana front office has five selections in this year’s draft to upgrade their roster so a deal on draft night seems likely.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Orlando Magic would be moving back one position to acquire the veteran shooter Kenrich Williams. Williams just re-signed with the Thunder on a four-year, $27.1 million deal through the 2027 season.
Williams has earned the extension while being a vital bench player for the Oklahoma City Thunder for the last three seasons. He is 6-foot-6 but mostly plays stretch-4 for the Thunder.
He is not much of a playmaker or defender, but he shot 37.3 percent from three in 22.8 minutes per game last season. The Magic could use his shooting like most of the other players acquired in this article.
The Magic would be willing to move back one selection if they believe the Thunder are drafting a different player than who they want. They would bring in a veteran who is used to playing for a rebuilding team and the Magic would not lose much value.
4 Directions the Orlando Magic can go with trades on draft night
Seeking a Backup Center
Atlanta Hawks
The Orlando Magic finished the season with Goga Bitadze as their backup center. Shot blocking and an athletic, rim running center can be an improvement for the roster. Onyeka Okongwu fits the timeline of the young Magic, and at 22 years old, still has room for improvement.
Here, Orlando trades Chuma Okeke and Bol Bol to acquire the big man. Both players had difficulty cracking the rotation to finish the season. They are both still young than 25 years old and could bolster the depth for Atlanta’s bench.
The Hawks could be a team ripe for a deal. They disappointed last season in losing in the first-round of the playoffs. They also have six active players who make more than $18 million per year. Their books are tight. This deal would allow them to acquire two team-friendly contracts.
It is highly unlikely the Atlanta Hawks part with their young center. Instead they seemed poised to try to move on from Clint Capela. That would probably be a contract too big for the Magic to pursue.
Still, Okongwu has not been able to blossom into the starting center the Hawks intended after selecting him with the sixth overall selection three seasons ago. He is in a bit of a prove-it season and is forcing Atlanta to make a difficult choice.
Okongwu is still young and likely to command more money than the Hawks are willing to pay for their backup center. Okongwu is extension eligible this offseason, and if he were to hit restricted free agency next season, there will have plenty of teams interested in signing him to large deals.
Charlotte Hornets
Here I find another young backup center by acquiring Kai Jones. Jones is a former first-round pick who is 22 years old.
He has yet to crack the rotation in his first two years averaging a meager 9.1 minutes per game. The Charlotte Hornets recently drafted former Duke Blue Devil Mark Williams, and he seems to be the future of the position for the team.
Nick Richards has also played well for Charlotte after being selected as the 42nd overall pick. Richards recently signed a three-year, $15-million deal with the team. Clearly the Hornets like him, and he played in 19 more games with 6.7 more minutes than Kai Jones last season.
Jones possesses a thin frame that can run the floor, but most importantly, defend the rim.
Per NBA.com, with a minimum of 250 minutes played, Kai Jones is number one in defended field goal percentage and players have the worst actual field goal percentage versus expected when Jones contests their shot.
These statistics might be an outlier based on the fact that Jones is mostly playing against backup players, but it is intriguing.
He also spent time in Orlando during high school playing for Orlando Christian Prep, so a reunion to Central Florida could be a great fit.
The Hornets agree to this deal if they believe they can find a quality player at 36 and decide to not create a logjam with the three centers.
Chuma Okeke might not have a lot of value currently, but he has shown flashes of spreading the floor and defending opposing wings.
He played some of his best basketball as a rookie under former Magic coach Steve Clifford who is now Charlotte’s coach. If Clifford can unlock some of his potential then the Hornets have to be happy with this trade.
This is not a blockbuster trade, to say the least. But it gives Orlando depth at a position where only Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze are under contract before the draft and free agency.
Orlando’s front office has a history of only selecting a maximum of two rookies each year to add to the roster, so trading the 36th pick for a first-round prospect is worth the risk.
Utah Jazz
Kelly Olynyk is in the final year of his deal that he originally signed with the Detroit Pistons. He had a great season last year with the new-look Utah Jazz.
He started all 68 games averaging 12.5 points per game in 28.6 minutes.
He was a willing passer with 3.7 assists per game which is good for the seventh-most assists among centers in the NBA last year. Olynyk also played fewer minutes than the six guys ahead of him.
At 6-foot-11, Olynyk is comfortable playing either power forward or the center position. He has always been a capable shooter averaging 36.8 percent from three in his career and has stayed relatively healthy through 10 seasons.
The Jazz make this trade so that Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler become the frontcourt of the future for the franchise.
Utah would receive two expiring contracts at the end of next season as well as a future first round pick for only moving back two selections in the upcoming draft.
Executive for the Jazz, Danny Ainge, has rebuilt the Jazz roster in one short year and has amassed a significant amount of draft picks. It might be worth the move if he can bring in another first round pick for a veteran player.
The Magic make this deal to give up minimal assets to draft a player at ninth overall who would not be there in two selections. Bringing in Olynyk on an expiring deal is a sweetener to see if he can help generate offense off the bench for the team.
The Magic have an intriguing future and want to continue to make the right moves to further enhance the roster. Teams will be interested in making deals on Thursday night and Orlando can certainly be one of them.
If the team becomes active or stays on the trade sidelines remains to be seen, but regardless the future of the Magic will be brighter by Friday morning.