Make Magic a contender in 2026

Post #1 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:03 am

Keen to see ideas in how the Magic can improve their roster to be a strong contender in 2026.

They have a few good pieces and their young guys will be ready next year.

ReggiesKnicks · Post #2 » by **ReggiesKnicks** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:25 am

Compare them to Boston--the Magic are a Tatum and another player short.

How can the Orlando Magic trade for a Tatum level (Top 5-ish) player in the NBA? They can't, but in the spirit of the thread...

Paolo + Future 1sts + AB for Giannis

Post #3 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:06 am

ReggiesKnicks wrote:Compare them to Boston--the Magic are a Tatum and another player short.

How can the Orlando Magic trade for a Tatum level (Top 5-ish) player in the NBA? They can't, but in the spirit of the thread...

Paolo + Future 1sts + AB for Giannis

I think Paolo+Franz can be a Tatum+Brown
I think WCJ+JI+Goga matches the Boston bigs.

I see the acquisition of Jrue+White+Pritchard to be the key for the Magic

Post #4 » by **jbk1234** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:18 am

zimpy27 wrote:
ReggiesKnicks wrote:Compare them to Boston--the Magic are a Tatum and another player short.

How can the Orlando Magic trade for a Tatum level (Top 5-ish) player in the NBA? They can't, but in the spirit of the thread...

Paolo + Future 1sts + AB for Giannis

I think Paolo+Franz can be a Tatum+Brown
I think WCJ+JI+Goga matches the Boston bigs.

I see the acquisition of Jrue+White+Pritchard to be the key for the Magic

Suggs is close enough to White that I think that role is already filled. If he plays, this is a different series.

I don't think they need a Jrue, who's kinda of cooked but is getting covered by being the 5th best starter on that team. They do need a guard who can space the floor, run an offense, break down a defense, and get his teammates involved. For all the talk about how common those guys are, they're really not.

lirikko · Post #5 » by **lirikko** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 4:29 am

Magic in: Trae Young, Mohuamed Gueye
Magic out: KCP, Black, Da Silva, Isaac, 2 FRP

Astaluego · Post #6 » by **Astaluego** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 4:51 am

A.Black/KCP+1 FRP for Bane

Or

Black/WCJ+FRP for Reaves/Milton

MasterIchiro · Post #7 » by **MasterIchiro** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 4:56 am

Magic roster is a distressed asset because their feature players don't space well nor pressure the rim. Suggs when he's on helps do both, and obviously glues their POA perimeter defense.

I just don't think their top half is a sustainable build.

One_and_Done · Post #8 » by **One_and_Done** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:30 am

Basically impossible. They need to turn Suggs into a prime Chris Paul type player, plus add a young Mikhail Bridges type of player. That's just not going to happen.

thelead · Post #9 » by **thelead** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:57 am

How can we add Myles Turner, Ty Jerome, and Tyus Jones to the roster? There are more ideal players but I'm trying to think of somewhat realistic targets.

GatherStepGuru · Post #10 » by **GatherStepGuru** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:11 am

A healthy Suggs, and a PG who can create for themselves and others. CJ McCollum, or Malik Monk type. Watching them feels like alot of Banchero or Wagner iso. If they had someone who was a scoring threat while being able to create for others, they could unlock more of their role players.

giberish · Post #11 » by **giberish** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:19 am

Good health and adding a quality offensive guard to start next to Suggs perhaps gets them to fringe contender status (pushing for 3rd in the EC, or possibly higher if Cleveland or Boston fall off significantly).

Getting to a more serious contender probably takes that and a Paolo/Giannis trade. Which shortens their timeline and gets expensive but is a big short-term upgrade.

tacos · Post #12 » by **tacos** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:47 am

Anfernee... it may have been mentioned around here once maybe even twice already tho

Not a sure way to contention but young athletic and low cost...

Slim Charless · Post #13 » by **Slim Charless** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:46 am

jbk1234 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:
ReggiesKnicks wrote:Compare them to Boston--the Magic are a Tatum and another player short.

How can the Orlando Magic trade for a Tatum level (Top 5-ish) player in the NBA? They can't, but in the spirit of the thread...

Paolo + Future 1sts + AB for Giannis

I think Paolo+Franz can be a Tatum+Brown
I think WCJ+JI+Goga matches the Boston bigs.

I see the acquisition of Jrue+White+Pritchard to be the key for the Magic

Suggs is close enough to White that I think that role is already filled. If he plays, this is a different series.

I don't think they need a Jrue, who's kinda of cooked but is getting covered by being the 5th best starter on that team. They do need a guard who can space the floor, run an offense, break down a defense, and get his teammates involved. For all the talk about how common those guys are, they're really not.

The Magic need Dame more than Giannis. A PG who can score and create is what is needed on that team. Garland would be the best choice but that's not happening. Trae, but also seems unlikely to have a inner division trade

Maybe Murray if Denver wants some depth?

Post #14 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 10:48 am

Maybe Grimes would be a cheap add in FA

jayjaysee · Post #15 » by **jayjaysee** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 10:57 am

Would not want to rush the young core. You’ve got E stars and you need to build around them imo.

think you just finally do one of those KCP+picks for Coby, Sexton, Monk…

More minor would be dumping KCP and signing Tre or Tyus Jones using however much of the MLE is necessary. That 20-24mpg of an NBA level PG would help a lot. Probably could add DAR and Dennis to that list I guess.

I don’t know if it costs to dump KCP or not (I think he does) but with the new matching rules seems like it is pretty easy to clear enough (mixed with thanking Gary Harris for his time) to set up using the MLE..

Clipsz 4 Life · Post #16 » by **Tim Lehrbach** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 11:17 am

It's a tough question, but they need to go for it. The defense is elite. Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs are good building blocks. Unfortunately, their need -- an elite creator and shot-maker -- is one of the hardest archetypes in the NBA to acquire. I don't know where they go from here, but I sure want to see this roster evolve into legit contention.

ReggiesKnicks · Post #17 » by **ReggiesKnicks** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 12:28 pm

zimpy27 wrote:
ReggiesKnicks wrote:Compare them to Boston--the Magic are a Tatum and another player short.

How can the Orlando Magic trade for a Tatum level (Top 5-ish) player in the NBA? They can't, but in the spirit of the thread...

Paolo + Future 1sts + AB for Giannis

I think Paolo+Franz can be a Tatum+Brown

Next year? That would take a quantum leap from Paolo. Rarely do players go from fringe Top 50 to Top 5.

I think WCJ+JI+Goga matches the Boston bigs.

I agree to an extent but Horford and Zinger are much better shooters than these players, which is why Boston is as good as they are, 5-out spacing.

I see the acquisition of Jrue+White+Pritchard to be the key for the Magic

This matters, but again, nobody is as good as Tatum here or even close.

pipfan · Post #18 » by **pipfan** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 12:32 pm

I once (or 7 times) posted CWhite to Orl ideas
I think he'd fit in well-as long as he's not too expensive next summer.
Great kid, not strong on D but he'll fit and he can create

Bulls need to take a step back to take 3 steps forward

Godaddycurse · Post #19 » by **Godaddycurse** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 1:27 pm

With the style they play i am skeptical they can maintain good health

JRoy · Post #20 » by **JRoy** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 1:39 pm

ORL should move either Banchero or Wagner for the best lead guard they can get.