The Orlando Magic could be adding a superstar on the trade market this offseason.
The Orlando Magic are going to be searching for a superstar this offseason from several different angles.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley Suggested a trade between the Magic and Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant.
“If they ever hope to be more than a pesky first-round opponent, they have to address their offensive issues. While Morant wouldn’t help with their shooting shortage, his creation, passing and downhill attacking would all help resuscitate their 27th-ranked offense,” Buckley wrote.
“It might take a minute to find the right distribution of touches for Morant, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but the end result could be a steady stream of pick-your-poison scenarios for opponents. Orlando would have to prioritize spacing with its other spots, but bounce-back years from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jalen Suggs along with a healthy Mo Wagner could make that much more manageable.”
In the deal, the Magic would send Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, a 2025 first-round pick (via DEN), a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected) and a 2028 first-round pick (top-two protected) to the Grizzlies.
If that were the proposal from the Grizzlies, this is an easy deal for the Magic to accept. It gives them a point guard in his prime to help create with Banchero and Franz Wagner, which is exactly what Orlando needs to take the next step as a contender.
The Orlando Magic have a chance to acquire Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht, but it will cost them.
Bleacher Report NBA writer Eric Pincus Linked the former first-round pick to the Magic via a hypothetical four-team trade in which the Magic play the role of the middle-man to clear up salary and bring in shooters.
In Pincus’ proposal, Orlando would send point guard Cole Anthony and the 25th pick in this year’s draft to the Dallas Mavericks for center Daniel Gafford.
Subsequently, the Magic would enter a trade involving the Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets, sending Gafford to Los Angeles in exchange for Knecht. Meanwhile, the Nets would receive Jett Howard and a 2027 second-rounder via Orlando.
“Knecht is an upside play. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 draft in and out of the Lakers’ lineup as a rookie in part due to their roster volatility. He has good size and strength, but he needs to improve defensively. Still, he shot a respectable 37.6 percent over 78 games, including a 37-point outing in November against the Utah Jazz with a rookie-record nine made three-pointers,” Pincus wrote.
“The cost would be Cole Anthony, a reliable veteran who stepped up when injuries to others required him to drive the offense. However, he doesn’t have a vital role when the Magic are fully healthy,” Pincus added.
This scenario would add another promising young piece to the Magic’s core while addressing the Lakers’ need for a center. Following the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Luka Doncic, Los Angeles nearly traded Knecht to Charlotte for center Mark Williams. However, the trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical.
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