The Magic face a difficult decision leading up to the trade deadline: do they add reinforcements with an eye on competing this year or do they cut their losses in the midst of an injury-filled season?
Orlando is without Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac for the season. Aaron Gordon is also sidelined with an ankle sprain and likely won’t be back until after the All-Star game. Cole Anthony has a rib fracture and definitely won’t be back until after the break.
The franchise has two Disable Player Exceptions, worth $6.1 million and $3.7 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Utilizing either would allow the team to temporarily add an 18th man (Orlando currently has 17 players on the roster). The team must be cautious of the luxury tax, as they are sitting just $2.8 million below it, which may limit the appeal of the exception.
While bigger moves via trade could be ahead, on the signing front, it seems more likely that the club makes a minor acquisition. The Magic just added Chasson Randle on a two-way deal while waiving Frank Mason, and a similar move could be in the cards.
More on the Magic
- The Magic may be asking for too much in trade talks for Mohamed Bamba, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report contends. The former top-10 pick has no path to regular playing time with Nikola Vucevic ahead of him and he’s been rumored to be on the block, as he has just one year left on his contract after this season.
- Orlando should consider trading for Celtics guard Carsen Edwards, Wasserman opines in the same piece. Shooting was supposed to be Edwards’ calling card, though he hasn’t showcased that so far since coming into the league (just 32.1% from behind the arc through 50 career NBA games). The Magic are depleted at the point guard position and they could give Edwards an opportunity to get back on track and depending on the price in a trade, he would give the franchise a low-risk option with high upside for the future.
- Only Fultz and Isaac are “off the board” in trade talks (by virtue of signing extensions this year), per Marks in the aforementioned ESPN piece. We’ve previously heard rumors that the Magic are not keen on re-signing Evan Fournier and he could be traded ahead of the deadline.
- ICYMI: Our own Rob Parks has you covered with Orlando Magic coverage this season. Check out his latest.
