The title of the article says it all. The Magic, for a lack of a better term, look like absolute shit right now. The team is arguably the worst offensive team in the league and there doesn’t seem to be an easy way out (cue the Rocky IV montage where Rocky looks back on his life while No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper plays in the background). I know we’re still early in the season and things could change, but that has not stopped Magic fans from playing the role of GM and coming up with their own trade ideas. As you may or may not know, I’m a sucker for playing that role as well, so below I’ve written up five hypothetical trade proposals I’d like to see the Magic pursue.
Nuggets Trade Will Barton/Juancho Hernangomez/Vlatko Cancar
Why for Orlando? The Magic are desperate for a knockdown shooter. Spacing has been horrendous to start the season and they don’t seem to have the personal to break out of that slump. Enter Juancho Hernangomez. He would instantly be the best shooter on the team, in fact in 2016 he was regarded as the best spot-up shooter in the draft. Will Barton replicates a bit of what Fournier does as a scorer but might be a slightly better ISO scorer than Evan but projects as a slight downgrade as a shooter and on the defensive end. Cancar is an unknown but talented prospect out of Slovenia. Known for his ability to shoot the ball, he’s probably not ready to play in the NBA for another year or so.
Why for Denver? Immediately Denver takes on a bit more salary but potentially sheds nearly 14 million going into the 2021 off-season due to Evan Fournier’s contract expiring. With Fournier being a little more versatile and a bit bigger than Barton, he projects to be a better fit in Denver than Barton is. Also, Mason Plumlee is in the final year of his contract. It is very unlikely Denver brings him back at that price range. Currently, Khem Birch is a bargain contract and can slide into that backup center spot behind Nikola Jokic. Khem would also bring much-needed rim protection to the Nuggets. The draft pick they get would be compensation for Cancar. The pick likely would not convey this year as it is protected 1-20. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Trade DJ Augustin/Aaron Gordon/Top 20 Protected 2020 1st (if doesn’t convey, turns into 2021 2nd round pick)
Why for Orlando? The Magic are desperate for shot creators, playmakers and some roster balance. As currently constructed, Orlando has dedicated 50% of its roster to “big men” with 4 Power Forwards and 3 Centers. As the NBA puts a larger emphasis on shot creation, guard play and three point shooting, the Magic have continued to try and build against the grain. Currently the team only has three plays who have career 3pt % of AT LEAST 35% and nobody that has averaged more than 16ppg for their career. Enter D’Angelo Russell. Sure, he can be a bit streak and he has absolutely shot his team out of a game a few times, but don’t be mistaken, D-Lo is a professional scorer, having scored 40 or more points in a game 5x in his young career, even scoring 52 about a week ago. Burks and Chriss are serviceable rotation player (more so Alec Burks) that would potentially fill out some holes on our roster, but are mostly being added as salary filler.
Why for Golden State? No matter how hard the Warriors front office try, D’Angelo Russell will never be an ideal fit next to Steph and Klay. Too many overlapping skill sets, not enough size, athleticism or defensive abilities. Aaron Gordon can help some of that. Gordon is currently playing out of position for the Magic. You can argue that he’d be playing out of position for the Warriors too, but remember, Draymond Green plays nearly 50% of his minutes at Center, which mean there is roughly 15-20 minutes a night where AG can slot in at PF. In 18-19 the Magic got the best out of Gordon by staggering his minutes (60% at PF and 40% at SF), and in Steve Kerr’s system, and potentially playing significant time with 5 men out, most of AG’s deficiencies at the SF position would be nullified. With Steph and Klay likely out for the season and D-Lo on the way out, DJ Augustin gives the Warriors a stable veteran presence at the guard position while also handing them some roughly 7 million dollars in cap space the following season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Trade Aaron Gordon/Wes Iwundu
Nets Trade Spencer Dinwiddie/Joe Harris
Why for Orlando? You might as well just copy and paste the first few sentences of the previous trade scenario. Do we really need to revisit how desperate the Magic are for scoring and playmaking and how redundant having over 9000 Power Forwards is? Dinwiddie is a combo guard who is equally as good of a SG as he is a PG. A crafty scorer but a streaky 3pt shooter. He’d easily lead the team in FTA per game, averaging 7.6 FTA per 36. Dinwiddie is someone who can play with or behind Fultz, and could potentially lead the team in assists. Joe Harris not only has the best beard in the NBA, but is also one of the 10 best shooters in the league as well. Did I mention that the Magic are desperate for some sharpshooters yet? Harris is also comfortable playing the 2, 3 or 4. OMG IMAGINE HIM AT THE 4 AND ISAAC AT THE 5. Look at all the space the team would have. So much room for activities!
Why for Brooklyn? The Nets need a PF. Wilson Chandler is 100 years old, Nicholas Claxton will never be as good as Aaron Gordon is right now and Rodions Kurucs is best suited to play SF. Aaron Gordon brings a level of athleticism and versatility currently lacking on Brooklyn’s roster, while also having a personality that should gel well with Kyrie and KD. Currently, the Nets have one of the league’s worst defenses (giving up a whopping 121.7ppg), Gordon instantly becomes the best defensive player on the team and could be counted on to help slow an opposing teams best offensive weapon. A core of Kyrie/Levert/Durant/Gordon/Allen is a formidable starting 5, and if Durant returns to even just 75% of the player he was prior to his injury, the Nets should be a Finals contender for a few years. Wes Iwundu can come in right away and fill a role as a 3&D wing and helps bolster an already deep bench. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Magic Trade Evan Fournier/DJ Augustin/Mo Bamba/Melvin Frazier Jr
Thunder Trade Chris Paul/Nerlens Noel/Hamidou Diallo/2021 1st
Why for Orlando? Orlando doesn’t project to be a major player in free agency anytime soon and Markelle Fultz looks to be the PG of the future, so why would the Magic take on Chris Paul’s contract? There are several reasons, actually. As previously mentioned, the Magic desperately need a playmaker, someone who can make something out of nothing, someone who can make his teammates better and even though he is 34 years old, Chris Paul is still one of the best in the league at all those things. I believe he is someone that will make Vooch and J.I. look like a perennial all-stars, while also being able to mentor and play alongside PG of the future, Markelle Fultz. Another relatively unspoked need for the Magic is an “Alpha”. Someone who demands greatness and will not accept mediocrity. Chris Paul is that guy. . Paul brings a certain intensity the Magic have lacked since the days of T-Mac. Name one potential free agent the Magic have a realistic chance at signing over the next three years that would impact the game as much as CP3. Its okay, I’ll wait for your answer Hamidou Diallo is a very raw, very young, very long super super super athletic wing player. He’s a massive liability as a shooter, but he’s great in transition and still finds a way to impact the game on the defensive end. Nerlens Noel may not have the upside Bamba does, but as it stands now, he’s a more impactful player.
Why for Oklahoma City? The Thunder should do everything in their power to get from underneath Chris Paul’s monstrosity of a contract. At the ripe age of 34, CP3 does not fit OKC’s timeline and its clear to anyone that has watched the Thunder this year, Shai Gilgous Alexander is the real deal and is the Thunder’s point guard of the future. In order to move on from Chris Paul, the Thunder would need to cough up quite a bit while also ensuring they don’t jeopardize their future. Evan Fournier is likely a better fit next to SGA than Chris Paul is, brings a bit more balance to the team and could slot in either at the 2 or 3. The Thunder also like to roll out lineups that feature 2 and sometimes 3 PG’s, and can continue to do this with the addition of veteran DJ Augustin. So far this trade has primarily been about fit, but let’s look at the cap situation as well. Augustin is an expiring contract, and Fournier’s contract ends the year after next. Chris Paul is still owed 124 million over the next 3 seasons, so needless to say this is a MASSIVE saving for the Thunder. They also get Mo Bamba, who while raw and thus far been disappointing in Orlando, provides a young piece who in theory should grow quite nicely as a complimentary piece next to SGA in a couple of years. The verdict is out on Melvin Frazier Jr, he’s only added as salary filler but could potentially fill a need for OKC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Magic Trade
Aaron Gordon/Evan Fournier/Khem Birch/ Top 20 Protected 2020 1st (if doesn’t convey, turns into lottery-protected 2021 1st round pick)
Blazers Trade
CJ McCollum/Kent Bazemore/Pau Gasol/2022 2nd
Why for Orlando? There is some reservation trading 24-year-old Aaron Gordon for 28-year-old CJ McCollum. Gordon may or may not have reached his ceiling yet, but CJ most definitely has and let me tell you, that’s fine by me. Not only is CJ one of the best shooters in the league, but he is also one of the best pure scorers (he’s averaged AT LEAST 20ppg every season since 15-16). Although he has never made an all-star team, CJ is most definitely an all-star caliber player and should see his numbers rise as he becomes the definitive number one option on this Orlando Magic team. Kent Bazemore would slide in at SF for the Magic, a more logical and natural fit there than Aaron Gordon. Bazemore also offers value in the form of cap relief. With the upcoming contract extensions of Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz, the Magic will need to find ways to retain those guys without diving too deeply into the luxury tax. Pau Gasol doesn’t have much left in the tank but his experience could prove to be invaluable to Mo Bamba. Working every day with a future first-ballot Hall of Famer could be what’s needed to inject some life into Mo’s underwhelming start.
Why for Portland? The Blazers have been one of the league’s best teams for a number of years now but have not been able to get over that hump. At what point do they go in on a roster shakeup? Dame and CJ are one of the most lethal backcourts in the NBA, but outside of those two, Portland doesn’t have great depth or balance. In all reality, Aaron Gordon is a better compliment to Damian Lillard than CJ McCollum is, you could PROBABLY say the same for Evan Fournier. With Zach Collins missing significant time this year due to a shoulder injury, the Blazers are now in desperate need of a Power Forward, with only Anthony Tolliver and Mario Hezonja (my lord and savior) available to play the 4, Aaron Gordon would come in and immediately fill the biggest gap on the roster. It would not surprise me one bit if AG taps into his all-star potential playing next to Damian Lillard, one of the top 3 PG’s in the league. Fournier is best suited as a 3rd option guy on a good team, and much like Gordon, he could and should thrive playing next to Lillard.
