With injuries piling up, the Magic are in the midst of a disappointing campaign and it may be logical to assume that the franchise will start making moves with the future in mind. However, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com hears that Orlando is “projecting patience and optimism” about bringing their core back next year.
Lowe speculates that the team’s stance doesn’t apply to Evan Fournier, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. It was previously reported that the Magic are not keen on re-signing the shooting guard and he could be available prior to the NBA trade deadline on March 25.
The club hasn’t been able to see everyone healthy and at full strength with Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac both out for the season and Aaron Gordon missing significant time as well.
More NBA Trade Rumors
- In the same piece, Lowe writes that he’d be surprised if the Raptors traded “anything of consequence” for Andre Drummond. Toronto/Tampa Bay needs a center, though it’s looking unlikely that they part with a core player in order to bring one to the team.
- Do the Hornets make sense as a trade destination for Drummond? Sam Vecenie of The Athletic argues that Charlotte could pretty easily cobble together enough salary to bring on Drummond’s $28.7 million salary. Cody Zeller‘s $15.4 million expiring deal plus Malik Monk ($5.3 million), who may not be in the team’s long-term plans, and Bismack Biyombo ($3.5 million) gets it done. For what it’s worth, I believe Charlotte will ultimately end up with Drummond, as I projected in my preseason 48 bold predictions.
- ICYMI: Teams around the league see value in Drummond but the worry is losing him for nothing at the end of the season, as our own Sam Amico wrote.
