Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[MasterGMer]

Now Cory Joesph is gone. Should Magic show interest in Russell Westbrook? He won't cost that much. And he could provide a different spark off of the bench.

Also what do you guys think of James Harden? He won't be cheap. But he could be a FA this summer. All Star last year. Sign and trade? Sorry. I just like to float ideas. lol

What planet do you live on bringing up Harden?

I know I know. It is unrealistic. Forget it


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[MasterGMer]

I am still more interested in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome, Duncan Robinson types for the MLE. And you can do a lot more towards getting them when you don't have to call their teams for trade availability, trade frameworks, and permission to speak to their agent. You can roll out a red carpet treatment on midnight and never let them feel like secondary dominos like they feel from everyone else, even their own home teams.

We cannot expect Desmond Bane alone to improve our shooting. We simply can't. We need to reset the vibe of the team and make the whole roster feel a new confidence in their shooting and playmaking. You do this with mixing sharpshooters into all the practice lineups and in staggered rotations after the first 5 minutes of games. We really need to play 10-deep in these grueling regular seasons, with 9-deep being a big strength in the Playoffs again, and protect some of our guards who go 120% in effort too often.

The BAE is next for a shooter/playmaker type. Yet Again. Maybe Tyus Jones, absurdly good at limiting TO's and giving you shooting at PG, and a former teammate of Desmond Bane. Or CP3 as the teacher for, well, basically everyone from Paolo to Suggs and in-between. With an underhanded job offer for CP3 as an ORL assistant coach whenever he feels like hanging it up.
Could we somehow do really well with a Veteran Minimum like Gary Trent Jr. also? Maybe he needs some BAE money instead. But just red carpet treatment him also, and an underhanded hint at raising his salary upon bird rights.

Lineup:
Jalen Suggs / Tyus Jones
Desmond Bane / Nickeil Alexander-Walker / Gary Trent Jr.
Franz Wagner / Anthony Black / Tristan Da Silva
Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac
Wendell Carter Jr. / Mo Wagner / Goga Bitadze

You got four new players who walk in and give zero F's about any previous Magic offensive woes. They're snipers. And accurate. Utilize them. Get confident as a whole team in shooting. This is a new era of Magic basketball. Win now. Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva, and Caleb Houstan if still here, are working on breaking further into the rotations or into new positions like the PG spot in 2-3 seasons. But not quite today probably.

Can Magic even afford all those targets altogether?


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[Magic#1]

I am still more interested in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome, Duncan Robinson types for the MLE. And you can do a lot more towards getting them when you don't have to call their teams for trade availability, trade frameworks, and permission to speak to their agent. You can roll out a red carpet treatment on midnight and never let them feel like secondary dominos like they feel from everyone else, even their own home teams.

We cannot expect Desmond Bane alone to improve our shooting. We simply can't. We need to reset the vibe of the team and make the whole roster feel a new confidence in their shooting and playmaking. You do this with mixing sharpshooters into all the practice lineups and in staggered rotations after the first 5 minutes of games. We really need to play 10-deep in these grueling regular seasons, with 9-deep being a big strength in the Playoffs again, and protect some of our guards who go 120% in effort too often.

The BAE is next for a shooter/playmaker type. Yet Again. Maybe Tyus Jones, absurdly good at limiting TO's and giving you shooting at PG, and a former teammate of Desmond Bane. Or CP3 as the teacher for, well, basically everyone from Paolo to Suggs and in-between. With an underhanded job offer for CP3 as an ORL assistant coach whenever he feels like hanging it up.
Could we somehow do really well with a Veteran Minimum like Gary Trent Jr. also? Maybe he needs some BAE money instead. But just red carpet treatment him also, and an underhanded hint at raising his salary upon bird rights.
#25, #46 are used very carefully for strategic impact and maximizing upside based on both team fit and personal potential. #25 Rasheer Fleming. #46 Ryan Nembhard.

Lineup:
Jalen Suggs / Tyus Jones / Ryan Nembhard
Desmond Bane / Nickeil Alexander-Walker / Gary Trent Jr.
Franz Wagner / Anthony Black / Tristan Da Silva
Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Rasheer Fleming
Wendell Carter Jr. / Mo Wagner / Goga Bitadze

You got four to six new players who walk in and give zero F's about any previous Magic offensive woes. They're snipers. And accurate. Utilize them. Get confident as a whole team in shooting. This is a new era of Magic basketball. Win now. Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva, and Caleb Houstan if still here, are working on breaking further into the rotations or into new positions like the PG spot in 2-3 seasons. But not quite today probably.

Tyus Jones would help this team A LOT. CP3 has pretty much said he wants to go back to his family in LA. I'll be surprised if he doesn't sign with one of the LA teams, probably the Lakers.

[dsg2021]

I am still more interested in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome, a waived Duncan Robinson, those shooter/playmaker types for the MLE. And you can do a lot more towards getting them when you don't have to call their teams for trade availability, trade frameworks, and permission to speak to their agent. You can roll out a red carpet treatment on midnight and never let them feel like secondary dominos like they feel from everyone else, even their own home teams.

We cannot expect Desmond Bane alone to improve our shooting. We simply can't. We need to reset the vibe of the team and make the whole roster feel a new confidence in their shooting and playmaking. You do this with mixing sharpshooters into all the practice lineups and in staggered rotations after the first 5 minutes of games. We really need to play 10-deep in these grueling regular seasons, with 9-deep being a big strength in the Playoffs again, and protect some of our guards who go 120% in effort too often.

The BAE is next for a shooter/playmaker type. Yet Again. Maybe Tyus Jones, absurdly good at limiting TO's and giving you shooting at PG, and a former teammate of Desmond Bane. Or CP3 as the teacher for, well, basically everyone from Paolo to Suggs and in-between. With an underhanded job offer for CP3 as an ORL assistant coach whenever he feels like hanging it up.
Could we somehow do really well with a Veteran Minimum like Gary Trent Jr. also? Maybe he needs some BAE money instead. But just red carpet treatment him also, and an underhanded hint at raising his salary upon bird rights.
#25, #46 are used very carefully for strategic impact and maximizing upside based on both team fit and personal potential. #25 Rasheer Fleming. #46 Ryan Nembhard.

Lineup:
Jalen Suggs / Tyus Jones / Ryan Nembhard
Desmond Bane / Nickeil Alexander-Walker / Gary Trent Jr.
Franz Wagner / Anthony Black / Tristan Da Silva
Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Rasheer Fleming
Wendell Carter Jr. / Mo Wagner / Goga Bitadze

You got four new players who walk in and give zero F's about any previous Magic offensive woes. They're snipers. And accurate. Utilize them. Get confident as a whole team in shooting. This is a new era of Magic basketball. Win now. Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva, and Caleb Houstan if still here, are working on breaking further into the rotations or into new positions like the PG spot in 2-3 seasons. But not quite today probably.

Can Magic even afford all those targets altogether?


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Absolutely or well, like 90% sure, because maybe we need to dump Goga and/or Jett into cap/exemption space or reduction. We have juicy lottery team 2nds in our chest too. But these are all tools available today to make the roster for next season. The question of can you pay all of them in future years is a tax question only.

I would love for someone like Knightro to chime in (I stopped reading Larry Coon CBA FAQs), but basically, I don't know if we will have the full 14 mil MLE in future seasons. We should have the pathway of trades every season where we probably have to take like a tiny bit less in salary in every move per CBA rules iirc. But I don't know if we get to walk around with a 14 mil MLE every single season.

We need to make the roster whole too. One player doesn't change everything unless they're on a list of like four very special names only.

[fendilim]

I am still more interested in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome, a waived Duncan Robinson, those shooter/playmaker types for the MLE. And you can do a lot more towards getting them when you don't have to call their teams for trade availability, trade frameworks, and permission to speak to their agent. You can roll out a red carpet treatment on midnight and never let them feel like secondary dominos like they feel from everyone else, even their own home teams.

We cannot expect Desmond Bane alone to improve our shooting. We simply can't. We need to reset the vibe of the team and make the whole roster feel a new confidence in their shooting and playmaking. You do this with mixing sharpshooters into all the practice lineups and in staggered rotations after the first 5 minutes of games. We really need to play 10-deep in these grueling regular seasons, with 9-deep being a big strength in the Playoffs again, and protect some of our guards who go 120% in effort too often.

The BAE is next for a shooter/playmaker type. Yet Again. Maybe Tyus Jones, absurdly good at limiting TO's and giving you shooting at PG, and a former teammate of Desmond Bane. Or CP3 as the teacher for, well, basically everyone from Paolo to Suggs and in-between. With an underhanded job offer for CP3 as an ORL assistant coach whenever he feels like hanging it up.
Could we somehow do really well with a Veteran Minimum like Gary Trent Jr. also? Maybe he needs some BAE money instead. But just red carpet treatment him also, and an underhanded hint at raising his salary upon bird rights.
#25, #46 are used very carefully for strategic impact and maximizing upside based on both team fit and personal potential. #25 Rasheer Fleming. #46 Ryan Nembhard.

Lineup:
Jalen Suggs / Tyus Jones / Ryan Nembhard
Desmond Bane / Nickeil Alexander-Walker / Gary Trent Jr.
Franz Wagner / Anthony Black / Tristan Da Silva
Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Rasheer Fleming
Wendell Carter Jr. / Mo Wagner / Goga Bitadze

You got four new players who walk in and give zero F's about any previous Magic offensive woes. They're snipers. And accurate. Utilize them. Get confident as a whole team in shooting. This is a new era of Magic basketball. Win now. Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva, and Caleb Houstan if still here, are working on breaking further into the rotations or into new positions like the PG spot in 2-3 seasons. But not quite today probably.

Can Magic even afford all those targets altogether?


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Absolutely or well, like 90% sure, because maybe we need to dump Goga and/or Jett into cap/exemption space or reduction. We have juicy lottery team 2nds in our chest too. But these are all tools available today to make the roster for next season. The question of can you pay all of them in future years is a tax question only.

I would love for someone like Knightro to chime in (I stopped reading Larry Coon CBA FAQs), but basically, I don't know if we will have the full 14 mil MLE in future seasons. We should have the pathway of trades every season where we probably have to take like a tiny bit less in salary in every move per CBA rules iirc. But I don't know if we get to walk around with a 14 mil MLE every single season.

We need to make the roster whole too. One player doesn't change everything unless they're on a list of like four very special names only.

Imo, add in another shooter or two, you have no idea how confidence will rub off on other players that they can shoot the three ball in the same accuracy as well. I think we are heading towards the right direction, just have to get another one of two volume shooter. We need to prioritize this over signing NAW, who is only a better defending AB.

[Knightro]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

[Redick07]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

If we plan to trade Isaac, John Collins might be a good option. He is 27 years old with a 27m expiring contract next year. He will also be a good backup for Paolo.

A deal in the draft night like Isaac(27.6m), Jett (5.2m), #25 for John Collin(26.6m), 5m TPE?

After 7/1:

WCJ(11m) / Goga(8.3m) / MoW(9m, re-sign)
Paolo(15.3m) / Collins(26.6m)
Franz(38.6m) / TDS(3.8m)
Bane(36.7m) / NAW(MLE)
Suggs(35m) / Black (8m)
Total: 192m < 195m 1 apron

Use full MLE to sign NAW

[Knightro]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

If we plan to trade Isaac, John Collins might be a good option. He is 27 years old with a 27m expiring contract next year. He will also be a good backup for Paolo.

A deal in the draft night like Isaac(27.6m), Jett (5.2m), #25 for John Collin(26.6m), 5m TPE?

After 7/1:

WCJ(11m) / Goga(8.3m) / MoW(9m, re-sign)
Paolo(15.3m) / Collins(26.6m)
Franz(38.6m) / TDS(3.8m)
Bane(36.7m) / NAW(MLE)
Suggs(35m) / Black (8m)
Total: 192m < 195m 1 apron

Use full MLE to sign NAW

Issac’s contract counts as $15M for trade purposes whether he’s moved before 7/1 or not.

[basketballRob]

We need to add a couple of vet guards. We may be able to use the taxpayer MLE and BAE. I know we need to stay under the 2nd apron. If Detroit uses their $17m in cap room to sign a player like NAW or Bobby Portis and don't sign Schroeder and Beasley, we should give them a call. I don't think Beasley will take another $3m deal from them.

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[Redick07]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

If we plan to trade Isaac, John Collins might be a good option. He is 27 years old with a 27m expiring contract next year. He will also be a good backup for Paolo.

A deal in the draft night like Isaac(27.6m), Jett (5.2m), #25 for John Collin(26.6m), 5m TPE?

After 7/1:

WCJ(11m) / Goga(8.3m) / MoW(9m, re-sign)
Paolo(15.3m) / Collins(26.6m)
Franz(38.6m) / TDS(3.8m)
Bane(36.7m) / NAW(MLE)
Suggs(35m) / Black (8m)
Total: 192m < 195m 1 apron

Use full MLE to sign NAW

Issac’s contract counts as $15M for trade purposes whether he’s moved before 7/1 or not.

Issac, who???

Isaac, not Issac. You must not be a Magic fan


Moreover, could you please show me how you get this information? Cuz I ask GPT, it tells me the below information:

If Jonathan Isaac is traded before this year's NBA Draft Night, the receiving team will take on his 2024–25 season salary of $27.6 million, not the $15 million figure for future seasons.

[Knightro]

If we plan to trade Isaac, John Collins might be a good option. He is 27 years old with a 27m expiring contract next year. He will also be a good backup for Paolo.

A deal in the draft night like Isaac(27.6m), Jett (5.2m), #25 for John Collin(26.6m), 5m TPE?

After 7/1:

WCJ(11m) / Goga(8.3m) / MoW(9m, re-sign)
Paolo(15.3m) / Collins(26.6m)
Franz(38.6m) / TDS(3.8m)
Bane(36.7m) / NAW(MLE)
Suggs(35m) / Black (8m)
Total: 192m < 195m 1 apron

Use full MLE to sign NAW

Issac’s contract counts as $15M for trade purposes whether he’s moved before 7/1 or not.

Issac, who???

Isaac, not Issac. You must not be a Magic fan


Moreover, could you please show me how you get this information? Cuz I ask GPT, it tells me the below information:

If Jonathan Isaac is traded before this year's NBA Draft Night, the receiving team will take on his 2024–25 season salary of $27.6 million, not the $15 million figure for future seasons.

GPT is incorrect.

[T-Cat]

I'm not understanding why Franz Wagner will play for Germany this summer when he needs to rest for this upcoming season?

[basketballRob]

Can we even make another trade on draft night? I thought Bobby Marks said no.

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[Redick07]

Issac’s contract counts as $15M for trade purposes whether he’s moved before 7/1 or not.

Issac, who???

Isaac, not Issac. You must not be a Magic fan


Moreover, could you please show me how you get this information? Cuz I ask GPT, it tells me the below information:

If Jonathan Isaac is traded before this year's NBA Draft Night, the receiving team will take on his 2024–25 season salary of $27.6 million, not the $15 million figure for future seasons.

GPT is incorrect.

You can’t just say someone is wrong without giving any evidence.
I ask you for the source to prove that you are right. However, you just said GPT is incorrect? That’s not convincible.

[RookieStar]

I'm not understanding why Franz Wagner will play for Germany this summer when he needs to rest for this upcoming season?

Euro players love playing for their country???

[Skybox]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

Aldama is the guy that Bane almost beat up on the MEM bench...for not playing defense

That's probably the moment Mosely fell in love with Bane

[basketballRob]

I'd trade the #25 and Goga for Pritchard or the #25 and Houstan for Pippen.

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[Skybox]

I'd trade the #25 and Goga for Pritchard or the #25 and Houstan for Pippen.

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Sounds great...but ORL gets hung up on quickly in either case. Pritchard/AB as the reserve backcourt would be amazing...Pritchard is so good and on such a good deal that he's probably the last guy BOS trades, unless someone insists on him to unload KP or Jrue - but it'll cost.

You mentioned earlier that Marks said ORL can't make a trade...

We can obviously trade any players any time, but we can't trade consecutive year's picks...so, if we want to trade #25, we have to make the selection
and then trade it...which is semantics, Shams will announce it as soon as it's agreed to...just can't be consummated -officially until after the pick is made.

[Knightro]

Issac, who???

Isaac, not Issac. You must not be a Magic fan


Moreover, could you please show me how you get this information? Cuz I ask GPT, it tells me the below information:

If Jonathan Isaac is traded before this year's NBA Draft Night, the receiving team will take on his 2024–25 season salary of $27.6 million, not the $15 million figure for future seasons.

GPT is incorrect.

You can’t just say someone is wrong without giving any evidence.
I ask you for the source to prove that you are right. However, you just said GPT is incorrect? That’s not convincible.

*Sigh*

Teams trading after the regular season ends, but before the start of free agency operate with 25-26 player salaries but under 24-25 salary cap and apron figures.

This system was implemented to prevent apron teams from circumventing the salary cap by making trades before the start of free agency that would hard cap them in the upcoming season.

https://www.thirdapron.com/p/salary-cap-minutia-why-the-magic

[AdamTheGreek]

Trade Isaac and sign Santi Aldama for the full MLE?

Apparently Aldama was the one Grizz who didn’t like Bane. So that’s a no.