Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[RookieStar]

If Orlando could be guaranteed 1 of Clayton/Fleming/Raynaud with the #27 I think you do this trade without any hesitation. These seems like a no brainer for both teams. I would even add #57 if they had any interest in that.

#25 for Jett Howard/#27

Uh what?

We own 25 and Jett.....

[Magic_Johnny12]

If Orlando could be guaranteed 1 of Clayton/Fleming/Raynaud with the #27 I think you do this trade without any hesitation. These seems like a no brainer for both teams. I would even add #57 if they had any interest in that.

#25 for Jett Howard/#27

Uh what?

We own 25 and Jett.....

Yes, you are correct.

Dropping two spots *should be the cost of eating $6M in negative salary (there’s a possibility that it might cost more).

We’re just hoping the connection between Jett and his father plays a bigger factor in their willingness to do such a move.

And before you say it, yes a measly $6M is a lot of money for a team like Orlando now especially considering it’s tied to a player that provides zero on court value.

[RookieStar]

If Orlando could be guaranteed 1 of Clayton/Fleming/Raynaud with the #27 I think you do this trade without any hesitation. These seems like a no brainer for both teams. I would even add #57 if they had any interest in that.

#25 for Jett Howard/#27

Uh what?

We own 25 and Jett.....

Yes, you are correct.

Dropping two spots *should be the cost of eating $6M in negative salary (there’s a possibility that it might cost more).

We’re just hoping the connection between Jett and his father plays a bigger factor in their willingness to do such a move.

And before you say it, yes a measly $6M is a lot of money for a team like Orlando now especially considering it’s tied to a player that provides zero on court value.

Has there even been a scenario like that before?
We give out the higher pick AND a player to move down?

[Magic_Johnny12]

Uh what?

We own 25 and Jett.....

Yes, you are correct.

Dropping two spots *should be the cost of eating $6M in negative salary (there’s a possibility that it might cost more).

We’re just hoping the connection between Jett and his father plays a bigger factor in their willingness to do such a move.

And before you say it, yes a measly $6M is a lot of money for a team like Orlando now especially considering it’s tied to a player that provides zero on court value.

Has there even been a scenario like that before?
We give out the higher pick AND a player to move down?

Yea, plenty of times.

You have to detach the thought that player x is of any value and simply look at Jett as a “filler” that carries a $6M negative contract.

Essentially a cap clearing move. Teams do it all the time.

In a different time I would say there’s no point in moving him because it had no real impact on the overall plan/goal. However, Jett and his contract could be the difference in Orlando being able to acquire NAW in free agency (by opening up the MLE).

If dropping two spots to get rid of Howard’s salary and still get one of our top-3 targets while subsequently helping aid in being a real suitor for NAW or another big MLE target then I would say the cost is justified.

[basketballRob]

Uh what?

We own 25 and Jett.....

Yes, you are correct.

Dropping two spots *should be the cost of eating $6M in negative salary (there’s a possibility that it might cost more).

We’re just hoping the connection between Jett and his father plays a bigger factor in their willingness to do such a move.

And before you say it, yes a measly $6M is a lot of money for a team like Orlando now especially considering it’s tied to a player that provides zero on court value.

Has there even been a scenario like that before?
We give out the higher pick AND a player to move down?

Yes. That would get us closer to having the MLE to offer to NAW. I would trade the 25 and Jett for the #36.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[RookieStar]

Yes, you are correct.

Dropping two spots *should be the cost of eating $6M in negative salary (there’s a possibility that it might cost more).

We’re just hoping the connection between Jett and his father plays a bigger factor in their willingness to do such a move.

And before you say it, yes a measly $6M is a lot of money for a team like Orlando now especially considering it’s tied to a player that provides zero on court value.

Has there even been a scenario like that before?
We give out the higher pick AND a player to move down?

Yea, plenty of times.

You have to detach the thought that player x is of any value and simply look at Jett as a “filler” that carries a $6M negative contract.

Essentially a cap clearing move. Teams do it all the time.

In a different time I would say there’s no point in moving him because it had no real impact on the overall plan/goal. However, Jett and his contract could be the difference in Orlando being able to acquire NAW in free agency (by opening up the MLE).

If dropping two spots to get rid of Howard’s salary and still get one of our top-3 targets while subsequently helping aid in being a real suitor for NAW or another big MLE target then I would say the cost is justified.

Can you give an example? Im curious.. never heard that before.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Has there even been a scenario like that before?
We give out the higher pick AND a player to move down?

Yea, plenty of times.

You have to detach the thought that player x is of any value and simply look at Jett as a “filler” that carries a $6M negative contract.

Essentially a cap clearing move. Teams do it all the time.

In a different time I would say there’s no point in moving him because it had no real impact on the overall plan/goal. However, Jett and his contract could be the difference in Orlando being able to acquire NAW in free agency (by opening up the MLE).

If dropping two spots to get rid of Howard’s salary and still get one of our top-3 targets while subsequently helping aid in being a real suitor for NAW or another big MLE target then I would say the cost is justified.

Can you give an example? Im curious.. never heard that before.

Maybe not literally as common as I made it seem, but one that comes to mind is the Mavericks trading Davis Bertans and the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Thunder for the 12th overall pick.

Same concept/reasoning.

[RookieStar]

Yea, plenty of times.

You have to detach the thought that player x is of any value and simply look at Jett as a “filler” that carries a $6M negative contract.

Essentially a cap clearing move. Teams do it all the time.

In a different time I would say there’s no point in moving him because it had no real impact on the overall plan/goal. However, Jett and his contract could be the difference in Orlando being able to acquire NAW in free agency (by opening up the MLE).

If dropping two spots to get rid of Howard’s salary and still get one of our top-3 targets while subsequently helping aid in being a real suitor for NAW or another big MLE target then I would say the cost is justified.

Can you give an example? Im curious.. never heard that before.

Maybe not literally as common as I made it seem, but one that comes to mind is the Mavericks trading Davis Bertans and the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Thunder for the 12th overall pick.

Same concept/reasoning.

That was the whole deal? Ok thanks

[basketballRob]

Teams that are rebuilding with cap room have always leveraged their room for assets.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Magic_Johnny12]

Can you give an example? Im curious.. never heard that before.

Maybe not literally as common as I made it seem, but one that comes to mind is the Mavericks trading Davis Bertans and the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Thunder for the 12th overall pick.

Same concept/reasoning.

That was the whole deal? Ok thanks

Yea, the Thunder had a lot of salary cap space, allowing them to absorb Bertans' contract without sending back a player with a matching salary. This move provided the Mavericks with the flexibility to create a significant trade exception, which they could later use to acquire players without needing to match salaries, effectively cleaning up their cap sheet and avoiding luxury tax penalties.

[RookieStar]

So with that said... is Jett viewed as a negative asset outside magic realgm?

I mean i was surprised when after that bane trade a lot of non-magic fans actually think that KCP and Cole are positive assets while we thougt a FRP was the cost of moving KCP

[Audi]

So with that said... is Jett viewed as a negative asset outside magic realgm?

I mean i was surprised when after that bane trade a lot of non-magic fans actually think that KCP and Cole are positive assets while we thougt a FRP was the cost of moving KCP

Every fan base has it’s casuals. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[OrlandoDream]

So with that said... is Jett viewed as a negative asset outside magic realgm?

I mean i was surprised when after that bane trade a lot of non-magic fans actually think that KCP and Cole are positive assets while we thougt a FRP was the cost of moving KCP

Jett is beyond negative. He has not value in the NBA and is most likely on his way out the league if he doesn't show something this year.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

So with that said... is Jett viewed as a negative asset outside magic realgm?

I mean i was surprised when after that bane trade a lot of non-magic fans actually think that KCP and Cole are positive assets while we thougt a FRP was the cost of moving KCP

Jett is the definition of JAG. You could take 15 dudes in the 2nd round and they’re Jett level. Was the most moronic pick by a FO that’s risk averse.

[RookieStar]

I mean... other teams probably see his quick release from 3 and the pecking order of our team and think he just needs a chance on their team to blossom or something.

We are a defensive team and he just cant compete with KCP Black and Gary in front of him.

[OrlandoDream]

Jett has had plenty of chances. Last year was his golden opportunity with the obliques taking out half our starters and Suggs missing most of the season. If he could not break the rotation over Gary Harris, corpse of Corey Joseph or Traveling Queen, its over. Good luck trying to break the rotation next season with upgraded roster and more win now approach.

Yes he got a nice shot and can shoot.....but he just can't do anything else on the court to show some value. I think he would benefit from a more past paced approach. Mosley system is too slow paced for him. Similar to KCP, he's a catch-and-shoot guy. When you slow it down and make him play halcourt, he just doesn't have the ball handling, court vision, reading defenses, and just overall IQ to stay on the court. He may get an opportunity to be a better player, but I just don't think it will be here.

[CLosP]

I mean... other teams probably see his quick release from 3 and the pecking order of our team and think he just needs a chance on their team to blossom or something.

We are a defensive team and he just cant compete with KCP Black and Gary in front of him.

A player who in theory is an outside shooter who can’t get playing time on one of the worst shooting teams doesn’t help his case any. I mean for Gary Harris to be ahead of you in the depth chart speaks for itself.

[RookieStar]

I mean... other teams probably see his quick release from 3 and the pecking order of our team and think he just needs a chance on their team to blossom or something.

We are a defensive team and he just cant compete with KCP Black and Gary in front of him.

A player who in theory is an outside shooter who can’t get playing time on one of the worst shooting teams doesn’t help his case any. I mean for Gary Harris to be ahead of you in the depth chart speaks for itself.

Yeah but i did specify we are a defensive team.. in fact top3 in the league if i remember. That means to all outsiders it means Jett cant handle our defensive schemes atm.

[OrlandoNed]

I hate how much both the fan base and front office fret over defense so much.

I don't care how good your defense is when your offense is bottom 5. You are not gonna win a damn thing when you have either category in the toilet.

[thelead]

So with that said... is Jett viewed as a negative asset outside magic realgm?

I mean i was surprised when after that bane trade a lot of non-magic fans actually think that KCP and Cole are positive assets while we thougt a FRP was the cost of moving KCP

Jett is beyond negative. He has not value in the NBA and is most likely on his way out the league if he doesn't show something this year.

I think it depends on the club. A teams like Brooklyn or Washington would take him on a flyer while they continue to tank. He would help them get to the salary floor and either outcome would be great for them. If he sucks, he helps them get a better pick. If he develops, they get a quality player for peanuts. Obviously, playoff teams would not value him at all.