Official 2024-2025 Magic Trade ideas thread continued

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Also, I think people gloss over the fact that Nembhard is a PG playing out of position because Halliburton is such an exceptional PG.

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[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Nebhard will be traded imo, if they keep him, then Mathurin…

Why would the Pacers who the last two years have gone to the ECF and very likely the NBA Finals trade anybody?

They're not even a taxpaying team at the moment. Their exceeding expectations AND their powder is dry. Best of all worlds.

Come on, Knight. They will all expect to get paid after winning it this year. I sort of have them beating OKC, because of play style, although I’m not supremely confident, OKC is stacked…


I actually think their play style and their 13 man rotation will change the way the game is played over the next few years.

In that case, I’d expect a lot of movement and focus on drafting to be central to most team’s philosphy until the CBA changes again.


I think there will be a premium on drafting “ready” players to balance out the costs of keeping any kind of core. Either that, or GMs will not be doling out these ridiculous contracts for EVERYBODY…

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

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Great insight….

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

Also, he’s definitely not worth trading Suggs for, if that s the cost…

I’d take Simons for Cole + before trading Suggs for Garland.

The same Simons who has never started a single playoff game and hasn't even really played a meaningful basketball game in five years?

A lot of these guys who are rumored to be trade targets for the Magic like Simons and Sexton and Coby White really haven't ever played on a meaningful role on a good team.

There's just as much risk in that as there is in a guy that's struggled with injuries in the playoffs IMO.

I don’t dispute this at all. I just definitely wouldn’t put Garland ahead of any of them, because we HAVE seen him in the PO, and he disappeared or cried.

[89Magicfan]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

The Pacers are about to make the finals, are are nowhere near the luxury tax, and Nembhard makes less than $20M AAV. They have no reason to trade him or anyone else in their core.

The only reason Garland is even potentially on the trade block is because the Cavs have flamed out in three straight playoffs with this group, but are now deep into the 2nd apron.

No offense, but you basically backed up why I wouldn’t go after Garland.

Yeah and that’s why I don’t think I want to invest our future on him. I rather take a risk on Simons along side of Suggs.

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Great insight….

I mean. I actually agree with your premise is why.

[basketballRob]

I really like Norm Powell if we could get him for Goga and Cole. Goga has a lot of trade buzz on Twitter.

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[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Thread became re-tarded in the last 5 pages.

Great insight….

I mean. I actually agree with your premise is why.

Huh?.. lol

I missed the context then, my bad.

[cedric76]

The average NBA team allocates around 69% of their cap to their top 3 players. If Orlando adds Garland to Paolo and Franz, that number for us jumps to ~74–80% in 2026–27 and 2027–28.

That might sound steep, but it's actually in line with what winning teams do. This season, 40% of teams spent at or above that level on their top 3. Here’s this list:

PHX: 107.1%
PHI: 96.6%
MIL: 91.9%
DEN: 87.7%
MIN: 84.7%
BOS: 81.1%
MIA: 80.1%
NYK: 78.8%
LAL: 77.4%
GSW: 75.5%
NOP: 75.5%
IND: 74.2%

If Paolo, Franz, and Garland are your core, that kind of cap concentration is not a red flag. It's a signal you're serious about competing.

Well said. People who want to add Simons to our current 3 fail to realize he would need to be extended and that would mean our top 4 is expensive. We have been needing a consolidation trade for years now, so I’m of the mind we can get our third star while shedding weight elsewhere.

That said, I’m open if there is a way to keep Suggs while drastically improving our team long term. The issue is that many of the mid level targets people are wanting would either be rentals or become expensive very fast.

Side note: I want to see the damn new logo. I can’t wait any longer. Hopefully they unveil it before the draft.

Not if Simons/section (and other names mentioned here) extend for less than 90 M over 4 yrs (which they d need to agree before the trade)

[cedric76]

What other assets would Orlando have to give up in this hypothetical trade? #16? Another player? Or is it just Suggs for Garland?

Suggs, Da Silva and 16 for Garland? Something like that.

I m already torn on garland for suggs straight up, of u add #16, this is a no deal

[cedric76]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

I agree but get killed in playoffs

He ll be great during the regular season though

[cedric76]

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

Also, he’s definitely not worth trading Suggs for, if that s the cost…

I’d take Simons for Cole + before trading Suggs for Garland.

The same Simons who has never started a single playoff game and hasn't even really played a meaningful basketball game in five years?

A lot of these guys who are rumored to be trade targets for the Magic like Simons and Sexton and Coby White really haven't ever played on a meaningful role on a good team.

There's just as much risk in that as there is in a guy that's struggled with injuries in the playoffs IMO.

The Simons and sexton talks are about upgrading on Cole.

I want to keep suggs + KCP in starting lineup up for now, with Simons/sexton+ AB coming off the bench.

Lethal guard rotation

[drsd]

The Simons and sexton talks are about upgrading on Cole.

I want to keep suggs + KCP in starting lineup up for now, with Simons/sexton+ AB coming off the bench.

Lethal guard rotation

I have been thinking about this.
Sexton will cost Anthony and picks vs. Garland will cost Suggs and picks. So, what's bettter?

Well Garland does have better stats: Collin Sexton (2025-2025) vs. Darius Garland (2025-2025): Head-to-Head Stats

But Garland is essentially unafordable whereas Sexton is affordable next season - and then might walk or command a massive salary.

In the end, it's the trade cost that I can't leave behind. I vote Sexton over Garland as the cost is so tiny. I think trading for Garland could actaually blow-up the "culture" of this roster.

[cedric76]

The Simons and sexton talks are about upgrading on Cole.

I want to keep suggs + KCP in starting lineup up for now, with Simons/sexton+ AB coming off the bench.

Lethal guard rotation

I have been thinking about this.
Sexton will cost Anthony and picks vs. Garland will cost Suggs and picks. So, what's bettter?

Well Garland does have better stats: Collin Sexton (2025-2025) vs. Darius Garland (2025-2025): Head-to-Head Stats

But Garland is essentially unafordable whereas Sexton is affordable next season - and then might walk or command a massive salary.

In the end, it's the trade cost that I can't leave behind. I vote Sexton over Garland as the cost is so tiny. I think trading for Garland could actaually blow-up the "culture" of this roster.

You can get sexton for Cole + #25 if he agrees to extend for less than 80 M / 4 yrs to be our 6th man

So suggs+ Sexton of the bench (below 20 M per year) is better than garland

[sk8wrulz]

I really like Norm Powell if we could get him for Goga and Cole. Goga has a lot of trade buzz on Twitter.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

It means we’re playing the wrong center in the starting lineup.

[Ducklett]

When you have a bottom 5 offense, with supposedly two max guys running things on high usage, then you might have a problem.

Now, if you want to tell me that both of those guys will develop significantly to the point that they can will the rest of the team into better offense, then fine. Both of those guys ARE scorers. That is their entire job.

I understand that the rest of the roster needs to get fleshed out and a coaching upgrade needs to probably take place. If people and management think trading Suggs is the answer to making those two guys actually work, then so be it. I think if Weltman did his goddamn job for more than 2 weeks out of the year he might have found a point guard capable of making the offense look average without giving up Jalen Suggs.

I don't think there is a single player in the league outside of the top 5 players that we could have traded for to beat OKC, so the question is, how do we get to that level? Our core three have to get better or need to be traded until we find THE guy. If it really is championship or nothing.

What does finding a point guard capable of contributing to the growth of two max contract players have to do with competing for championships this season? Is that some weird goalpost you added to the conversation?

Orlando is nowhere near that yet…. Obviously.

There is a grey area between competing for championships and developing. If your offense looks like **** and your two main MAX contract players are delivering a bottom 5 offense it’s either the system or them. Development internally doesn’t jump your rating on offense 10-15 spots because you got older.

Again, if you are telling me this roster is 1 total player away from being an AVERAGE offense, then so be it. Trade whoever that isn’t those two guys. Thats the bet you are making at the expense of assets. Jalen Suggs for Darius Garland straight up wouldn’t be the trade. Magic are giving up more.

I don't know why you get so combative so fast. I was just pointing out that Paolo and Franz have to get a lot better if the plan is championship.

[drsd]

You can get sexton for Cole + #25 if he agrees to extend for less than 80 M / 4 yrs to be our 6th man

Even if he fails to extend, I still think it's a good trade. (worst case is that the Magic can completely retool their guard core for 2026.27.

I am ok with a Sexton rental, as it is a rent-to-buy scheme!

[pepe1991]

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

He's been terrible in the playoffs, you aren't wrong there.

But is he?

Guy played 22 playoff games

17,3 ppg
5,5 apg
2,8 rpg
2,7 TO

42,8% FG, 34,3% for 3 and 86% FTs

50,2% eFG and 54% TS



Suggs ( about year younger)

7 playoff games
14,7 ppg
3,3 apg
5,1 rpg
2,9 TO

40% FG, 29% for 3 , 76,7% FTs

48,8% eFG , 54% TS

And on more important note:
year one- didn't finish season due injury , would not be able to play in April (Playoffs) even if Magic made it
year two- same as year one, again would not be able to play in playoffs, if Magic got there
year three- "breakout" - as only actually good year, played playoffs
year four - regression across the board after being payed and once again not able to play in playoffs

We have 4 years of evidence that Suggs playstyle isn't made to last and when he DID play in playoffs, he wasn't anything special. Matter of fact whole "Garland choked because Suggs guarded him" still can't explain what choked Suggs, since he was actually worst than Garland ( including 4-16 in game 1 and 2-13 in game 7) . So Garland choked him too? Basketball is more complicated than that.

On top of that Suggs is now having scarier injury than most people are willing to admit. We don't even know will he even recover to start next year, nor have any clue how his healthy will hold. In mean time he makes $35M next season for glorified 3 and D role with very limited playmaking.

Reality of Suggs comes in 3 layers at least to me:
1) team plays elite defense without him, he gets overrated because he yells and bumps his chest after every play
2) his playing style is suicidal. Guy was rolled in wheelchair, every second play he is either flopping or diving or looking like he broke something
3) he does not fix anything on offense, and isn't equipped to be 3rd option, matter of fact just adds up on low efficiency- high volume offense of Franz and Paolo and isn't capable of playmaking, composing team nor calming them down.


How this could have been fixed: by offering him 5 years $100M contract instead with 5th year being team option.
Instead he got 5 yeras , $150M contract based on one good year.

He simply isn't any more impactful player than Marcus Smart was or Caruso is. We know for fact that Celtics simply overhyped Smart and held him for too long, and that probably costed them 1 more title.
And Caruso plays for sub $10M a year and that's why he is so special.

Suggs ball off energy that raises team floor. But his salary lowers team floor as much as he as player raises because he simply isn't good enough to be top 3 option.
His contract will become major issue as he will continue to have health problems. Because thing that makes him special also makes him fragile ,and you can't have one without other.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

He's been terrible in the playoffs, you aren't wrong there.

But is he?

Guy played 22 playoff games

17,3 ppg
5,5 apg
2,8 rpg
2,7 TO

42,8% FG, 34,3% for 3 and 86% FTs

50,2% eFG and 54% TS



Suggs ( about year younger)

7 playoff games
14,7 ppg
3,3 apg
5,1 rpg
2,9 TO

40% FG, 29% for 3 , 76,7% FTs

48,8% eFG , 54% TS

And on more important note:
year one- didn't finish season due injury , would not be able to play in April (Playoffs) even if Magic made it
year two- same as year one, again would not be able to play in playoffs, if Magic got there
year three- "breakout" - as only actually good year, played playoffs
year four - regression across the board after being payed and once again not able to play in playoffs

We have 4 years of evidence that Suggs playstyle isn't made to last and when he DID play in playoffs, he wasn't anything special. Matter of fact whole "Garland choked because Suggs guarded him" still can't explain what choked Suggs, since he was actually worst than Garland ( including 4-16 in game 1 and 2-13 in game 7) . So Garland choked him too? Basketball is more complicated than that.

On top of that Suggs is now having scarier injury than most people are willing to admit. We don't even know will he even recover to start next year, nor have any clue how his healthy will hold. In mean time he makes $35M next season for glorified 3 and D role with very limited playmaking.

Reality of Suggs comes in 3 layers at least to me:
1) team plays elite defense without him, he gets overrated because he yells and bumps his chest after every play
2) his playing style is suicidal. Guy was rolled in wheelchair, every second play he is either flopping or diving or looking like he broke something
3) he does not fix anything on offense, and isn't equipped to be 3rd option, matter of fact just adds up on low efficiency- high volume offense of Franz and Paolo and isn't capable of playmaking, composing team nor calming them down.


How this could have been fixed: by offering him 5 years $100M contract instead with 5th year being team option.
Instead he got 5 yeras , $150M contract based on one good year.

He simply isn't any more impactful player than Marcus Smart was or Caruso is. We know for fact that Celtics simply overhyped Smart and held him for too long, and that probably costed them 1 more title.
And Caruso plays for sub $10M a year and that's why he is so special.

Suggs ball off energy that raises team floor. But his salary lowers team floor as much as he as player raises because he simply isn't good enough to be top 3 option.
His contract will become major issue as he will continue to have health problems. Because thing that makes him special also makes him fragile ,and you can't have one without other.

I can't really disagree with moat of what you said here, Pepe. Great post.

I'll only counter with what I saw and felt.

Garland was in Shambles that playoff game, and Donovan went over and comforted him or told him to suck it up.

Suggs smothered him on defense, bit I don't recall Suggs being great on offense either.

Same with Trae, I was a big fan until this last Play in game versus the Hawks. I was shocked that he took his ball and went home toward the end of that 4th quarter.I wouldnt want that attitude on this team.

Just my preference here, though.

If we get Garland, I'll be as supportive as anyone, but I'll keep my eye on him to see how he affects chemistry.