Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[Skybox]

JI for Knecht, Vanderbilt, a second
WCJ, Tyus for Zubac

.

I love these deals...why in the world would either team do them? I'd especially LOVE to plug Zubac in to our lineup, but...

Zubac might be the most valuable player on the Clips right now..and he makes more than WCJ, even after WCJ's extension. Do they lust for Tyus THAT much?

JI can't be very appealing to others, why would LA trade a less-expensive, more reliable, equally useless offensive player? Oh that's right, everyone believes you can just waive Isaac...why don't we just do that then?

Throw in some seconds for Zubac?

Love it but I still don't think that's close...Zubac 16ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 7' 240# no major injuries...he's a beast, some media (I can't recall who) had him pegged for possible All-NBA this year...if the Clips weren't crap, we'd probably hear more about him. His contract is comparable to WCJ's.

Your deals don't save us money, which was the whole point...I do NOT want to send out AB right as he's starting to show some great signs. The whole concept is about money and trying to salvage contention while making tough choices about the cap.

I guess I should just ignore the stuff behind the curtain and build superteams with no regard for cap like everyone else - that's more fun

[eyriq]

.

I love these deals...why in the world would either team do them? I'd especially LOVE to plug Zubac in to our lineup, but...

Zubac might be the most valuable player on the Clips right now..and he makes more than WCJ, even after WCJ's extension. Do they lust for Tyus THAT much?

JI can't be very appealing to others, why would LA trade a less-expensive, more reliable, equally useless offensive player? Oh that's right, everyone believes you can just waive Isaac...why don't we just do that then?

Throw in some seconds for Zubac?

Love it but I still don't think that's close...Zubac 16ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 7' 240# no major injuries...he's a beast, some media (I can't recall who) had him pegged for possible All-NBA this year...if the Clips weren't crap, we'd probably hear more about him. His contract is comparable to WCJ's.

Your deals don't save us money, which was the whole point...I do NOT want to send out AB right as he's starting to show some great signs. The whole concept is about money and trying to salvage contention while making tough choices about the cap.

I guess I should just ignore the stuff behind the curtain and build superteams with no regard for cap like everyone else - that's more fun

Just don't trade AB and you're good lol

[Skybox]

Let's say the Clips just tap out and blow it up...and ORL sees opportunity to make some quick noise, even if it leads to a breakup in the next year or two - presuming ownership isn't feeling any pressure to put away the checkbook...LIVE FOR TODAY!

ORL sends: Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Goga Bitadze, ORL 2031 frp (top 5)
LAC sends: Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr.

Zubac, WCJ, Moe
Paolo, WCJ, Penda
Franz, DJJ, TdS
Suggs, TdS, DJJ
Bane, AB, Tyus, Jase

superteam, exceptional depth, size, scoring, defense up and down the roster...the money works - for now

[tiderulz]

I was thinking about a trade centered around Black for Trey Murphy with other supporting contracts. Black Isaac and Jett I think works. I just feel like that’s a trade you make if Paolo and Franz are 26 and 27 because that would up the ante on the second apron and luxury tax stuff. Honestly Murphy at that point would be a 1-2 year rental.

Idk I do like Black and I am intrigued by his potential but at what point is it completely redundant with him Paolo and Franz. Though I am very excited for Black’s second half. I really believe Mo Wagner will be a game changer for him. We have seen how effective Mo was with Ingles and him last year in a second unit pick and roll offense. Having that outlet rolling making the defense really make a choice on his drives is interesting.

Murphy is a SF, i dont believe he can play SG. and he has a big contract too. I feel we could re-sign AB for what Murphy is getting and keep our player. and Black isnt redundant with Paolo and Franz. He doesnt need the ball to be effective.

[tiderulz]

Let's say the Clips just tap out and blow it up...and ORL sees opportunity to make some quick noise, even if it leads to a breakup in the next year or two - presuming ownership isn't feeling any pressure to put away the checkbook...LIVE FOR TODAY!

ORL sends: Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Goga Bitadze, ORL 2031 frp (top 5)
LAC sends: Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr.

Zubac, WCJ, Moe
Paolo, WCJ, Penda
Franz, DJJ, TdS
Suggs, TdS, DJJ
Bane, AB, Tyus, Jase

superteam, exceptional depth, size, scoring, defense up and down the roster...the money works - for now

thats a lot of money to be paying at center.

[Skybox]

I was thinking about a trade centered around Black for Trey Murphy with other supporting contracts. Black Isaac and Jett I think works. I just feel like that’s a trade you make if Paolo and Franz are 26 and 27 because that would up the ante on the second apron and luxury tax stuff. Honestly Murphy at that point would be a 1-2 year rental.

Idk I do like Black and I am intrigued by his potential but at what point is it completely redundant with him Paolo and Franz. Though I am very excited for Black’s second half. I really believe Mo Wagner will be a game changer for him. We have seen how effective Mo was with Ingles and him last year in a second unit pick and roll offense. Having that outlet rolling making the defense really make a choice on his drives is interesting.

Murphy is a SF, i dont believe he can play SG. and he has a big contract too. I feel we could re-sign AB for what Murphy is getting and keep our player. and Black isnt redundant with Paolo and Franz. He doesnt need the ball to be effective.

AB will be better and more versatile than Herb soon and, even if he does sign for the same $$, my proposal was predicated on NOLA also taking Isaac and his contract off our hands (based on AB's value). But Herb is good...I consider it a smallish on-court sacrifice for a big $$$ benefit. I'm not anti-AB, I'm anti-paying a sub $25m...if AB comes in on a solid, team-friendly extension - that's best. I compare it to Reaves-he signed for what seemed like below market to me, but realistically, he hadn't really shown years of solid performance - same story as AB. He's looking good now, but you can't claim he's peaking.

Everybody questions guys showing out in "contract years" ...that's true for AB right now, if we're being fair. He's great every 5th game, pretty good most games, weak one out of 5. His extension will be prickly. When I play golf, I only remember the 5 PGA-level shots...the other 110 bad ones were flukes . FO has their work cut out for them and has to consider the whole body of work, not just the shining moments...and, even more significantly for THIS team, the role that's available. He's basically NAW but maybe with more upside in our imaginations - he should get a NAW deal and stay here forever.

I also am looking to see how guys look with Moe back...AB, Tyus, Isaac, Penda might all fit better with Moe's scoring and size.

[Skybox]

Let's say the Clips just tap out and blow it up...and ORL sees opportunity to make some quick noise, even if it leads to a breakup in the next year or two - presuming ownership isn't feeling any pressure to put away the checkbook...LIVE FOR TODAY!

ORL sends: Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Goga Bitadze, ORL 2031 frp (top 5)
LAC sends: Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr.

Zubac, WCJ, Moe
Paolo, WCJ, Penda
Franz, DJJ, TdS
Suggs, TdS, DJJ
Bane, AB, Tyus, Jase

superteam, exceptional depth, size, scoring, defense up and down the roster...the money works - for now

thats a lot of money to be paying at center.

That's what I said, this is my "not my money" version...which is how most of the board seems to see things. WCJ might be even better at PF, but he's obviously not going to start or even get a lot of mins there. That's a big, physical, versatile group of bigs...championship-grade to match up with anyone.
I like WCJ, but he's proven unreliable...in this iteration, we're not solely dependent on him and we know Moe isn't really going to start for any kind of extended absences.