Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[three3d]

Jonathan Isaac at 15 minutes per game for us isn’t great at all. BUT JI at 15+ minutes for OKC is completely a different story.

[Skybox]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

[three3d]

An overlooked benefit and change for us is Banes ability to play fast. Memphis played at the highest pace of game this season. Playing fast will benefit us, PB if he becomes a lob threat will be so much more dangerous without the ball in his hand.

[AdamTheGreek]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

Avdalas pulled out of the draft, he’s playing at Virginia Tech next season. But if you want a Greek guy, Poulakidas from Yale makes a lot of sense.

Clarkson would be a worse version of Cole, I’m not taking him.

[orlando_joe]

magic not trading isaac he is needed just as much as back up guard and has outs unless da silva or houstan really make a jump even if they do trade will be for much lower salary player ...and magic not taking on a long term 20 mill a yr guard ..just not happing...look for 1/1 vet min till hit on one weather pick 25 or 2nd rd pick..maybe 8-10 mill if really sold on player

You do realize JI is high risk to be out? He can’t ramp up to cover when others are out.

well he played 71 games last yr and 58 first yr back with no back to backs or 3 in 4 nights type deals that yr
he is or can be expiring deal for last 3 yrs of deal..really even this yr if you want to pay only 8 next season play him 57 games big min
but he sure covers other players when he is in..lol

[pepe1991]

Kessler will be worth like 2 unprotected picks alone or some team will dump 4 years, $100M on him, because why not?

We are living in era of C rehab into pivotal part of basketball team. Kessler is elite rim protector and rebounder.

[Skybox]

I think a renewed Isaac is as big an X-factor for this team as anyone beyond the Big 4. When he's prime Isaac (and hitting 3's at 37% +...like he did the previous 2 years), he's clearly the most impactful non-starter - even if just defensively and even just 15-18 mpg. I still like him at small ball C, even when slimmed down again. His manic energy and devotion to defense can demolish game plans single-handedly.

A pretty ideal summer would be
- Isaac getting to his physical prime and getting his shots to fall while developing his rebounding techniques.
-Jase Richardson falling to #25 and being ROY in a backcourt pairing with AB, where he is given as much offensive rope as he can handle (or Clayton)
-upgrading starting C
-unloading some of the bloated bench payroll

[jezzerinho]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

Big overpay on Orlando's part in my view. Goga to me is worth a low first (v productive defensively, offensive production as pnr roll man, cost controlled multi year deal).

AB is worth a mid to low first rounder.

So thats 3 frps equivalent for Kessler and Clarkson? Clarkson at his age, deal, poor usage/efficiency profile, and absence of defence is a slight negative imo. Low first, high second to move him.

Basically 4 low frps equivalent for Kessler. No thanks.

[RichCollab]

magic not trading isaac he is needed just as much as back up guard and has outs unless da silva or houstan really make a jump even if they do trade will be for much lower salary player ...and magic not taking on a long term 20 mill a yr guard ..just not happing...look for 1/1 vet min till hit on one weather pick 25 or 2nd rd pick..maybe 8-10 mill if really sold on player

You do realize JI is high risk to be out? He can’t ramp up to cover when others are out.

well he played 71 games last yr and 58 first yr back with no back to backs or 3 in 4 nights type deals that yr
he is or can be expiring deal for last 3 yrs of deal..
but he sure covers other players when he is in..lol

JI is really fools gold as a defensive anchor because of his availability. We need win now moves to round out the top 4.

[Skybox]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

Big overpay on Orlando's part in my view. Goga to me is worth a low first (v productive defensively, offensive production as pnr roll man, cost controlled multi year deal).

AB is worth a mid to low first rounder.

So thats 3 frps equivalent for Kessler and Clarkson? Clarkson at his age, deal, poor usage/efficiency profile, and absence of defence is a slight negative imo. Low first, high second to move him.

Basically 4 low frps equivalent for Kessler. No thanks.

Yes, basically 4 frps now THAT is some interesting math

[Skybox]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

Avdalas pulled out of the draft, he’s playing at Virginia Tech next season. But if you want a Greek guy, Poulakidas from Yale makes a lot of sense.

Clarkson would be a worse version of Cole, I’m not taking him.

I'm not a fan of Clarkson's either, really just expiring salary fodder and DOES fill the role off the bench to some degree...in hindsight, this doesn't get us Kessler.

I'm sorry to disappoint you - but it wasn't about the "Greek-ness" My college roommate (and best man) is Greek and his parents emigrated and ran a Greek restaurant in Connecticut- so I'm down with the Souvlaki for sure. Everytime they came to visit, they brought pans of awesomeness - drooling thinking about it.

[RichCollab]

I think a renewed Isaac is as big an X-factor for this team as anyone beyond the Big 4. When he's prime Isaac (and hitting 3's at 37% +...like he did the previous 2 years), he's clearly the most impactful non-starter - even if just defensively and even just 15-18 mpg. I still like him at small ball C, even when slimmed down again. His manic energy and devotion to defense can demolish game plans single-handedly.

A pretty ideal summer would be
- Isaac getting to his physical prime and getting his shots to fall while developing his rebounding techniques.
-Jase Richardson falling to #25 and being ROY in a backcourt pairing with AB, where he is given as much offensive rope as he can handle (or Clayton)
-upgrading starting C
-unloading some of the bloated bench payroll

Renewed? How many seasons has he delivered this vision you have of him for a reason games played per year. I will show grace and credit him with 1 season.

We every offseason have this just wait and see JI next season hope.

[jezzerinho]

I think a renewed Isaac is as big an X-factor for this team as anyone beyond the Big 4. When he's prime Isaac (and hitting 3's at 37% +...like he did the previous 2 years), he's clearly the most impactful non-starter - even if just defensively and even just 15-18 mpg. I still like him at small ball C, even when slimmed down again. His manic energy and devotion to defense can demolish game plans single-handedly.

A pretty ideal summer would be
- Isaac getting to his physical prime and getting his shots to fall while developing his rebounding techniques.
-Jase Richardson falling to #25 and being ROY in a backcourt pairing with AB, where he is given as much offensive rope as he can handle (or Clayton)
-upgrading starting C
-unloading some of the bloated bench payroll

If we assume the following are on our bench next season:

Black (bar a big trade)
Jett (who would want him?)
TdS (cost controlled multi year)
Houstan? (cheap shooter)

Where is the offense coming from? We need to flip Goga and Isaac at an absolute minimum into some bench firepower. One has to be a guard the other probably a scoring 4 or 5 (depending on what u do with WCJ)

[orlando_joe]

I think a renewed Isaac is as big an X-factor for this team as anyone beyond the Big 4. When he's prime Isaac (and hitting 3's at 37% +...like he did the previous 2 years), he's clearly the most impactful non-starter - even if just defensively and even just 15-18 mpg. I still like him at small ball C, even when slimmed down again. His manic energy and devotion to defense can demolish game plans single-handedly.

A pretty ideal summer would be
- Isaac getting to his physical prime and getting his shots to fall while developing his rebounding techniques.
-Jase Richardson falling to #25 and being ROY in a backcourt pairing with AB, where he is given as much offensive rope as he can handle (or Clayton)
-upgrading starting C
-unloading some of the bloated bench payroll

i agree with most of this but who is this bloated bench players?
and do not see cheaper better center and can not pay more

[pepe1991]

Isaac's only in prime age vise, his prime was 21.

Person who spent near 3 years in rehab, from what normal players return from in like 10 months isn't in his prime.
Person who has heavy min restriction at age of 26 isn't in his prime.

He is 28, his body is 37.

[orlando_joe]

You do realize JI is high risk to be out? He can’t ramp up to cover when others are out.

well he played 71 games last yr and 58 first yr back with no back to backs or 3 in 4 nights type deals that yr
he is or can be expiring deal for last 3 yrs of deal..
but he sure covers other players when he is in..lol

JI is really fools gold as a defensive anchor because of his availability. We need win now moves to round out the top 4.

ok..but as i said you should be thinking a player that makes half his money or less..and most likely expiring..if magic move him will be to save money in 26/27 and duck tax this season

[jezzerinho]

Summer of Love - Post Bane Edition...

Needs:
1.Scoring/playmaking guard off the bench to complement AB
2. Upgraded Center and less expensive backups (not urgent but it's the big missing piece unless WCJ gets back to 10 rpg and 37%+ from 3 in 65+ games)
3. General quality of depth and budget contracts on the bench

Trade:
ORL sends:Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, #25
UTA sends: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson
Why UTA...Kessler will be up for an extension and they're still years away. They'd have to really believe in AB as a prospect. Clarkson is expiring.

ORL drafts Neoklis Avdalis at #46 and Ryan Nembhard at #57, sign Miles Plumlee for vet min, decline and re-sign Moe for $8m x 2yr + 1TO

Kessler, WCJ, Isaac (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, Avdalis
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, Clarkson, Nembhard

Kessler will have to be extended but Clarkson is expiring. Bringing WCJ off the bench at 4 & 5 gives ORL a lot more looks and, hopefully, helps with his exposure to injure (and the team's exposure to losing their only viable C for stretches)

Big overpay on Orlando's part in my view. Goga to me is worth a low first (v productive defensively, offensive production as pnr roll man, cost controlled multi year deal).

AB is worth a mid to low first rounder.

So thats 3 frps equivalent for Kessler and Clarkson? Clarkson at his age, deal, poor usage/efficiency profile, and absence of defence is a slight negative imo. Low first, high second to move him.

Basically 4 low frps equivalent for Kessler. No thanks.

Yes, basically 4 frps now THAT is some interesting math

In what sense?

In a straight trade, player 4 picks, Goga would net you a late 1st for sure.

Ditto Black.

If you want to trade 32yo Clarkson who is a no-defence inefficient chucker set to earn 14m pa for next 2 yrs, you'll have to pay for the privilege. Prob a low first, high second. Look at Anthony....

Then add #25.

That's a 4-pick equivalent price for Kessler.

[Skybox]

Good news everyone...problems solved (again)

#1
ORL sends: Goga, Jett, #25, future srp
BRK sends: #26 and #27

#2
ORL sends: WCJ, Houstan, #27
DAL sends: Gafford, Hardy

ORL declines and re-ups Moe (3x$8m), declines Harris, draft Raynaud at #26, Tyrese Proctor at #46, and R. Nembhard at #57

Gafford, Isaac, Raynaud (Moe)...I still like Isaac situationally at small ball 5, Moe will be back soon for backup mins
Paolo, Isaac
Franz, TdS
Suggs, Hardy
Bane, AB, Proctor or Nembhard (ONE of them will click)

[orlando_joe]

Big overpay on Orlando's part in my view. Goga to me is worth a low first (v productive defensively, offensive production as pnr roll man, cost controlled multi year deal).

AB is worth a mid to low first rounder.

So thats 3 frps equivalent for Kessler and Clarkson? Clarkson at his age, deal, poor usage/efficiency profile, and absence of defence is a slight negative imo. Low first, high second to move him.

Basically 4 low frps equivalent for Kessler. No thanks.

Yes, basically 4 frps now THAT is some interesting math

In what sense?

In a straight trade, player 4 picks, Goga would net you a late 1st for sure.

Ditto Black.

If you want to trade 32yo Clarkson who is a no-defence inefficient chucker set to earn 14m pa for next 2 yrs, you'll have to pay for the privilege. Prob a low first, high second. Look at Anthony....

Then add #25.

That's a 4-pick equivalent price for Kessler.

i see..and agree with the math

[Skybox]

I think a renewed Isaac is as big an X-factor for this team as anyone beyond the Big 4. When he's prime Isaac (and hitting 3's at 37% +...like he did the previous 2 years), he's clearly the most impactful non-starter - even if just defensively and even just 15-18 mpg. I still like him at small ball C, even when slimmed down again. His manic energy and devotion to defense can demolish game plans single-handedly.

A pretty ideal summer would be
- Isaac getting to his physical prime and getting his shots to fall while developing his rebounding techniques.
-Jase Richardson falling to #25 and being ROY in a backcourt pairing with AB, where he is given as much offensive rope as he can handle (or Clayton)
-upgrading starting C
-unloading some of the bloated bench payroll

Renewed? How many seasons has he delivered this vision you have of him for a reason games played per year. I will show grace and credit him with 1 season.

We every offseason have this just wait and see JI next season hope.

Certainly more reasons to doubt Isaac than to bet on him...that's why I say X-factor
-his injury history, limitations and last year shooting make him near worthless on the trade market
-at his best, we all must agree that he has DPOY potential (if he can play the minutes) and can change the vibe of a game just on the defensive end
-I think he's a better bet vs the alternatives...he's either walking wounded or massively impactful for $15m. Easy to say Rasheer Fleming can replace him but that's far from guaranteed (not that we can get RF anyway)...people say the same thing about 19yo's with wingspan every year, but...they don't.

*I'm basing this "one more chance" on his end of year comments about the weight gain disappointment...there's a (sensible) explanation for his decline this year. There's also some reason to be hopeful - he's effectively been healthy for two seasons now.

Bloated bench meaning Goga $9m for 3rd string, couldn't get on the court in the playoffs despite Moe being out. WCJ hitting $18m the year after when he's not starter-quality and historically misses games. Jett at $5.5m and AB at 7.9m and smelling an extension are not contributing to the degree they should. I can live with Moe at $11m...but only if 3rd string C is making $3m...just, generally, need to soup up the Top 8 and thin out the bottom 5, payroll wise.