3 Reasonable expectations for the Orlando Magic’s offseason

1. The Magic explore the trade market

If they wanted to, the Magic could be one of the teams making a big splash this summer. If someone they believe can help elevate this team to true contender status in the East becomes available, they would have the assets to get them. They have been linked to Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Anfernee Simons, and Brandon Ingram, for example. 

While there is no rush to build a contender right now—the core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs is still incredibly young—we should expect the Magic to at least explore the trade market and see which big name they could potentially get. Their young players still have plenty to learn, and they might as well do that on one of the better teams in the East. 

We should not expect the Magic to make a trade just to make a trade, however. Once they extend Suggs, Wagner, and Banchero, they will have to deal with the salary cap. So, if they want to add another expensive player to that mix, they have to be very sure that it will be worth it. Otherwise, the team’s financial cost might not fit the production on the court. 

The trade market could also be a backup plan just in case all of the Magic’s free-agent targets sign somewhere else.