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2024 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column: From sellers to buyers

The Orlando Magic's posture entering this year's trade deadline has changed. For the first time, they are going out on the market looking for ways to improve their team. That starts with a careful evaluation of what they have and what they are willing to give up.

By Philip Rossman-Reich

A lot of focus for the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline is on the future at point guard and what the team does with Markelle Fultz.
A lot of focus for the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline is on the future at point guard and what the team does with Markelle Fultz. / Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
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2024 Orlando Magic Trade Value Column

1. Paolo Banchero (3-Years, $39.1 million, Team Option for 2026) -- Last Year: 1st

Undoubtedly though, the most important player and the guy around whom everything revolves on this roster is Paolo Banchero.

Even during his rookie year, when Franz Wagner was an objectively better player, it was clear that this would become Paolo's team soon. Living through his inefficiency and mistakes was OK. He was the kind of primary scorer that you take with the No. 1 pick and build your team around.

Banchero has improved in every way this year, it seems. He is averaging 23.0 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game. He has had big scoring games regularly now, too. And there are so many ways he can continue to get better.

Banchero has impacted winning. The advanced stats may not show it yet -- partly because of the burden he is learning to carry. But Banchero is a significant driver for this young team and its success.

It is not merely his clutch finishes either. But, again, that is what stars do.

That should be the ultimate conclusion of all of this.

The Magic have a star. In his second year, Banchero has established himself among the best young players in the NBA (whether the national media recognizes it or not), and the Magic have a driving force to push their team forward.

That is all the Magic have ever wanted for this past decade. A player who could guide their rebuild.

They have that in Banchero. And as the deadline approaches, the goal is to make his life as easy as possible.

That is part of the problem, too. Orlando does not know what it needs because Banchero is a dynamic and versatile player. The team is still figuring out what the contours of his game are. The team does not want to box him in.

The most important thing for the Magic this year is to get Banchero in a playoff series and see how he responds to the pressure and what he learns about how defenses play him.

Next. Under the radar trade targets 02.03.24. 5 under-the-radar trade targets for the Orlando Magic. dark

That is the exciting thing about the Magic right now. Anything seems possible, but the future is also more clearly in focus.

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