The Orlando Magic have their foundation in place with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs and are in a great position this offseason to add impact players via free agency and trades to build on that foundation.
Although the Magic had a phenomenal showing in the playoffs, the roster’s shortcomings were evident, and there are needs that must be addressed for this team to get to the next level.
Orlando likely will not chase someone who changes things too much and instead will opt to go after players who add and fit into what they already have. As Jeff Weltman put it, the Orlando Magic do not want to lose their “North star”.
There will inevitably be a handful of teams entering or accelerating their rebuilds this offseason, but what teams could be entering a rebuild this offseason, and who can Orlando realistically acquire from them?
Orlando has already been connected to some top free agents, and trade targets—with the amount of cap space the Magic have, a superstar to build around, and a foundation to build on, Orlando's front office will be on the phone more than almost any other team this summer.
Most of Orlando's tradeable assets are in the form of draft capital, and to land a "big fish" on the trade market, the Magic will need to be creative, but they do have the assets and cap space to make some big trades if they are out there.
That being said, there are plenty of point guards and players on the trade market who would be able to help Orlando with their shooting struggles that are realistically acquirable for the Magic.
The number one priority should be finding players who will open up the floor and create driving lanes for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, either through knowing how, when, and where to get them the basketball in their spots, or by being a respected shooter and scorer.
Team # 4: Brooklyn Nets
The Nets moved on from the KD era a couple of seasons ago and have struggled to find any direction since then. They may not have been a good team last season, but they currently have some players on their roster that could take Orlando to the next level.
Mikal Bridges would be one of the most sought-after players on the trade market, but it is hard to envision the Nets trading him this season. While Orlando has assets to compete in trades to an extent, Brooklyn has players on their roster that would fit in Orlando beautifully and be able to make a high impact at a fraction of what a Mikal Bridges acquisition would cost.
Realistic trade targets on the Nets' roster, and why they fit with the Magic?
1. Cameron Johnson
Contract: 4 years, $94.5 million
Cam Johnson is a 6ft 8 pure knockdown shooter. He has not been a good defender in his career so far and may not be as versatile a player on the defensive end as Orlando is looking for, but there is no question that he would immediately improve Orlando from beyond the arc and would be the most consistent shooter on Orlando's roster.
He can also play multiple positions on the offensive end of the floor. Johnson just completed year 2 of a 4 year $94,500,000 contract and averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 39.1% from three last season on 6.1 attempts per game. He would be a good impact player off the bench and could be used in a variety of closing lineups to open a lot of space for Banchero and Wagner.
2. Cam Thomas
Contract: Rookie deal, extension eligible
Cam Thomas played in 66 games this season and averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He is a 6 foot 3 combo guard and at 22 years old, would fit the timeline of Orlando's core perfectly. He is coming off a very good season but is eligible for an extension this summer, as are Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.
Thomas would be a great fit offensively as a guard capable of getting his own shot, who is also capable of playing off the ball. This season, he shot 36.4 % from beyond the arc on 6 attempts per game and also shot just under 67% on 2-point field goal attempts. He is a subpar defender but has potential and is a potent scorer, who is capable of being the primary at spots.
Hypothetical Trades
- Magic receive: Cameron Johnson
Nets receive: Joe Ingles, Denver top-five protected first-round pick, second-round pick
-Magic receive: Cam Thomas
Nets receive: Caleb Houstan, two second-round picks
Team #3: Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers are at a crossroads in their rebuild and have a logjam in their backcourt between Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe along with some veteran players that could make an impact on a winning team.
Orlando, on the other hand, is looking to improve their backcourt this summer, which would make it feasible for these two organizations to be in contact, and each team possesses some assets the other would love to acquire. The top target for most of the Orlando fan base seems to be a realistic option for the Magic to inquire about and bring back to Orlando.
Realistic trade targets on Portland's roster, and why they fit with the Magic?
1. Anfernee Simons Contract: 4 years, $100 million
Simons is the number one option on the market for a lot of Orlando fans and has been since the trade deadline. With Simons being from Altamonte Springs, it started as a return home story, but considering how good the Magic already are, Simons also has a skill set that could catapult Orlando into the top tier of Eastern Conference NBA teams.
He is a dangerous scorer but does not need to be ball-dominant, making him a great candidate to play off of Paolo Banchero. Anfernee Simons averaged 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game —he shot a jaw-dropping 8.8 three-point attempts per game and cashed in at a 38.5% clip. He is the type of player you can "give the ball to and get out of the way" if needed but does not need the ball in his hands to be effective, and no team can have enough of those guys in today's NBA.
Hypothetical Trade
Magic receive: Anfernee Simons
Trail Blazers receive: Wendell Carter, Denver top-5 protected first-round pick, 2026 first- round pick, 2027 second-round pick
Team #2: Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz will likely not have any type of firesale of their talent, but, when teams call they will likely answer and listen closely about whatever player the person on the other line is calling about. Dany Ainge has a history of stockpiling draft capital and has already started doing so in Utah. Orlando has plenty of draft capital at their disposal to invest, making Utah another logical trade partner for the Magic this offseason.
Realistic trade targets on Utah's roster, and why they fit with the Magic?
1. Collin Sexton
Contract: 4 years, $70.9 million
Collin Sexton has not gotten much buzz in Orlando to date but checks a lot of the same boxes as Anfernee Simons. At 25 years old, he fits the timeline of Orlando's core, and he is capable of getting his own shot or playing off the ball, averaging 18.7 points per game last season.
As someone who can distribute the basketball or get his own shot, he fits the mold of today’s NBA point guard very well. He is also very capable of getting to the rim and finishing through contact. Sexton shot 39.4% from three last season also, making him another player who can open up space and driving lanes for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to work with.
He is a young, affordable guard who can space the floor and create shots for himself or others and may be the best fit for the Magic on the entire market. His contract would make it a lot easier for Orlando to add additional shooters
2. Jordan Clarkson
Contract: 2 years 28.3 million
Jordan Clarkson is a really, really good scorer and has been since he stepped onto an NBA court. He is able to use a quick first step and package of isolation dribble moves to get by defenders and into the paint. Clarkson's small cap hit would leave Orlando enough room to still add major pieces to the roster.
Clarkson averaged 17 points per game but also had a career-high last year in assists at 5 per game. Clarkson would be good in the starting lineup in Orlando but would be a great instant offense player off of the bench as well. Between Isaac locking down people on defense, Mo Wagner's energy and efficiency, and Clarkson lighting them up by scoring the ball, Orlando's bench would be one of the top in the NBA, if not the best.
Hypothetical Trades
- Magic receive: Collin Sexton
Jazz receive: Cole Anthony, Denver’s top-5-protected first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
- Magic receive: Jordan Clarkson
Jazz receive: Caleb Houstan, second-round pick
Team #1: Chicago Bulls
Chicago has delayed entering a full rebuild as long as they could. With upcoming free agents and a low ceiling as currently constructed, it seems the Bulls may have to enter the rebuild front offices across the NBA have long awaited, though. If Chicago moves on from their major pieces, there will be multiple teams interested but they underachieved again this year even with making the Play-In Tournament. They have an aging roster and don't appear to be a team destined to truly compete, even at their best.
Realistic trade targets on Chicago's roster, and why they fit with the Magic?
1. Alex Caruso
Contract: 4 years, 36.9 million
Alex Caruso would fit in Orlando like a glove. A backcourt featuring him and Suggs would be the best perimeter duo on the defensive end in the league and would have "All-Time" potential. Caruso is a hard-nosed, defense-first player with an ability to knock down open threes. Last season, Caruso shot 40.8% on 4.8 attempts per game from beyond the arc, so he would add some much-needed floor spacing to the starting unit.
Last season, in addition to his knock-down shooting ability, he was 1 of only 9 players in the NBA to average at least 1 block and 1 steal per game—he averaged 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks. Caruso would fit the culture Orlando is building perfectly. He loves to play defense but also has the ability to knock down three-point shots, making him a piece that could take Orlando to another level.
2. Ayo Dosunmu
Contract: 3 years, $21 million
Ayo Dosunmu had a breakout year last season and averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He is a 24-year-old, 6 foot 5 guard who can play defense, and last season had a career year from beyond the arc, shooting over 40% from three for the first time in his young career.
He was a middle-of-the-pack defender for Chicago last season, but they struggled as a team on the defensive end, and with Dosunmu's length he should be able to develop into a good defender, especially with the coaching in Orlando. While he may need some development on the defensive end, he showed tremendous growth on the offensive end last season, and the skill set he has developed so far could make an impact with Orlando while he continues to grow with the rest of the core.
Hypothetical Trades
- Magic receive: Alex Caruso
Bulls receive: Cole Anthony, Orlando’s #18 overall pick, 2025 second-round pick
- Magic receive: Ayo Dosunmu
Bulls receive: Caleb Houstan, Denver’s top-5-protected first-round pick