Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[OnlyFranz22]

Could the Warriors be a player for WCJ?

[Rainwater]

Could the Warriors be a player for WCJ?

And who will start at center for the Magic?

[jezzerinho]

I don't believe Wendell is going anywhere.

Neither Goga nor JI going would surprise me.

[CocoaFan]

Could the Warriors be a player for WCJ?

Wendell + Jett -> M. Moody + Q. Post. We get rid of Wendell's contract before it inflates next year, we get rid of Jett's contract and get Moody who can be our backup shooting guard with Post filling in as Goga's backup until Moe is healthy. Also saves us ~$3m this year which then we could sign Moe and Caleb. Sems like a win for the Magic.

[three3d]

Could the Warriors be a player for WCJ?

And who will start at center for the Magic?

Lol stop , WCJ isn’t even a center

[Skybox]

I'd love to upgrade starting C...but with WCJ, we at least have a chance. When he's good he's very good. Goga and Moe are backups - good backups. Remove WCJ and we're dead in the water, imo, unless it's for a better-fitting starting C. Having 3 really good backup Centers is the biggest problem - rather than one really formidable and reliable starter, a solid backup, and a big, cheap vet body just in case.

[Rainwater]

Could the Warriors be a player for WCJ?

And who will start at center for the Magic?

Lol stop , WCJ isn’t even a center

He is literally the starting center lol

[yoyojw17]

I'd love to upgrade starting C...but with WCJ, we at least have a chance. When he's good he's very good. Goga and Moe are backups - good backups. Remove WCJ and we're dead in the water, imo, unless it's for a better-fitting starting C. Having 3 really good backup Centers is the biggest problem - rather than one really formidable and reliable starter, a solid backup, and a big, cheap vet body just in case.

People look at his counting stats and assume... Low block rate ... Not a good center. But.... He's number 3 on the team in defense within 6 ft behind of course JI and surprisingly very close behind Tristan Da Silva .... Who obviously didn't get as much reps as Wendell. Shoot.... There is only a small defensive difference between him and Myles turner.

For me.... Blocks aren't as important if players shoot high percentage. At an extreme.... Which would someone prefer... Player a who get no blocks but opponents shoot 30% within 6 ft... Or a player that gets 2.2 blocks but players still shoot 58% within 6ft. Wcj is good at defending the paint scoring.... But also even at 265-270 lb capable of closing out on shooters and moving with them. JI just happens to give us all of that too... Off the bench. hahah. .... He a great compliment for Moe Wagner.

To be honest.... A lineup of Tyus/black/Tristan/JI/Moe could become a very well balanced bench with facilitation From Jones and Black with finishers.... Dependable "go get me bucket" in Moe.... And shored up defense with AB, Black, and JI... #benchmob

[T-Cat]

If Orlando Magic wants to trade away another unprotected 2032 first round pick along with Suggs, Franz Wagner and Anthony Black for Kuzma and Giannis?

C-WCJ/Goga/Dwight Howard
PF- Banchero/JI/TDS
SF-GIANNIS/Kuzma/Noah Penda
SG- Bane/Jett Howard
PG- Jones/Richardson/Fultz

[Airgordon00]

With LeBron doing his normal attention grabbing headlines and saying he wants to compete. Would y’all consider a deal like:
Magic get LeBron James and Austin Reaves

Lakers get Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Johnathan Isaac and Anthony Black.

Would we consider a major shakeup like this?

[Magic_Johnny12]

Brett Siegel (29K followers)

The Orlando Magic are another team the Lakers have contacted regarding Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, sources said. It is unknown at this time what the extent of these conversations was and whether the Magic are actively listening to offers for Carter, a valuable member of their frontcourt.

[Skybox]

Brett Siegel (29K followers)

The Orlando Magic are another team the Lakers have contacted regarding Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, sources said. It is unknown at this time what the extent of these conversations was and whether the Magic are actively listening to offers for Carter, a valuable member of their frontcourt.

There was a lot more to discuss with LA when Reaves made sense (before Bane)…there’s literally no one on LAL’s roster that would make sense for WCJ…I’d consider Goga for Knecht + cap savings (don’t know if LAL can even do that)…even Knecht is kind of unnecessary. Maybe look elsewhere.

[OrlandoDream]

Brett Siegel (29K followers)

The Orlando Magic are another team the Lakers have contacted regarding Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, sources said. It is unknown at this time what the extent of these conversations was and whether the Magic are actively listening to offers for Carter, a valuable member of their frontcourt.

As much as we need to get rid of Wendells contract, there is nothing don't he lakers realistically we would trade for. Knecht? I think Wendell can net a better package.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Brett Siegel (29K followers)

The Orlando Magic are another team the Lakers have contacted regarding Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, sources said. It is unknown at this time what the extent of these conversations was and whether the Magic are actively listening to offers for Carter, a valuable member of their frontcourt.

There was a lot more to discuss with LA when Reaves made sense (before Bane)…there’s literally no one on LAL’s roster that would make sense for WCJ…I’d consider Goga for Knecht + cap savings (don’t know if LAL can even do that)…even Knecht is kind of unnecessary. Maybe look elsewhere.

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

[Anti Chalmers]

Brett Siegel (29K followers)

There was a lot more to discuss with LA when Reaves made sense (before Bane)…there’s literally no one on LAL’s roster that would make sense for WCJ…I’d consider Goga for Knecht + cap savings (don’t know if LAL can even do that)…even Knecht is kind of unnecessary. Maybe look elsewhere.

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

I don't think WCJ is worth anywhere near a unprotected 1st pick.

[pepe1991]

There was a lot more to discuss with LA when Reaves made sense (before Bane)…there’s literally no one on LAL’s roster that would make sense for WCJ…I’d consider Goga for Knecht + cap savings (don’t know if LAL can even do that)…even Knecht is kind of unnecessary. Maybe look elsewhere.

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

I don't think WCJ is worth anywhere near a unprotected 1st pick.

Ofc not, especially in context of Lakers.

Lakers have two uber elite PGs and by just using blueprint from Dallas books two years ago, center they are searching for has to be massive vertical lob treat.

Carter offers nothing on offense. He is too heavy to catch ally oops without gathering, and he can't shoot to be worth kicking out.

Carter's whole basketball strength is good anticipation on defense and solid ability to survive switching. And from time to time he can rebound. Plus, he has been hurt every single year.


Vertical spacing for C is new normal. And Magic have 3 centers and not a single one of them is capable of catching lobs in traffic.

For context of that Dallas team that went to finals, they got 78% FG from Gafford and Livley off all oops dunked on 90 FGA.

Carter played his best season in nba on 22-60 team, as PF. Ever since, it's decline and downhill.

Further more, why he is not serious option for Lakers. Context of match ups. Vs Cavs, Mobley and Allen swallowed him. Vs Celtics he couldn't have better matchup . Grandpa Horford, who is 15 years older than him (oldest nba player ? ) and hobbling Porzingis who couldn't even stay on court. + nba meme Kornett. And he still wasn't dominant. Was rather pedestrian 10 ppg-11 rpg, 0,4 bpg . Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

You send him on West expecting him to deal with Zubac, Wemby, Gobert, Chet/I Hart, Jokić, Segun/Adams?

Zubac grabbed 9 offensive rebounds over him , Carter had 4 rebounds total.
vs Gobert, Gobert had 12-12, Carter had 2 rebounds & 4 points in 32 min
vs Segun, Segun had 6 offensive rebounds (14 points, 14 rebounds)
vs Raptors Barnes & Poeltl combined for 20 rebounds (7 offensive ), Carter had 6


We can't have stars on 5 positions, and it's fine. But Magic should seek for more diversity among Cs. Not just 3 carbon copies of same player, with identical issues for all 3.
Actually 2. I think Isaac's attempt to play C is finally over. When (if) Moe is back, he is another C who offers no vertical spacing (and not so much lateral spacing as well).

[GelbeWand09]

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

I don't think WCJ is worth anywhere near a unprotected 1st pick.

Ofc not, especially in context of Lakers.

Lakers have two uber elite PGs and by just using blueprint from Dallas books two years ago, center they are searching for has to be massive vertical lob treat.

Carter offers nothing on offense. He is too heavy to catch ally oops without gathering, and he can't shoot to be worth kicking out.

Carter's whole basketball strength is good anticipation on defense and solid ability to survive switching. And from time to time he can rebound. Plus, he has been hurt every single year.


Vertical spacing for C is new normal. And Magic have 3 centers and not a single one of them is capable of catching lobs in traffic.

For context of that Dallas team that went to finals, they got 78% FG from Gafford and Livley off all oops dunked on 90 FGA.

Carter played his best season in nba on 22-60 team, as PF. Ever since, it's decline and downhill.

Further more, why he is not serious option for Lakers. Context of match ups. Vs Cavs, Mobley and Allen swallowed him. Vs Celtics he couldn't have better matchup . Grandpa Horford, who is 15 years older than him (oldest nba player ? ) and hobbling Porzingis who couldn't even stay on court. + nba meme Kornett. And he still wasn't dominant. Was rather pedestrian 10 ppg-11 rpg, 0,4 bpg . Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

You send him on West expecting him to deal with Zubac, Wemby, Gobert, Chet/I Hart, Jokić, Segun/Adams?

Zubac grabbed 9 offensive rebounds over him , Carter had 4 rebounds total.
vs Gobert, Gobert had 12-12, Carter had 2 rebounds & 4 points in 32 min
vs Segun, Segun had 6 offensive rebounds (14 points, 14 rebounds)
vs Raptors Barnes & Poeltl combined for 20 rebounds (7 offensive ), Carter had 6


We can't have stars on 5 positions, and it's fine. But Magic should seek for more diversity among Cs. Not just 3 carbon copies of same player, with identical issues for all 3.
Actually 2. I think Isaac's attempt to play C is finally over. When (if) Moe is back, he is another C who offers no vertical spacing (and not so much lateral spacing as well).

A lob threat would be a godsend for Paolo & especially Franz too.

[jezzerinho]

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

I don't think WCJ is worth anywhere near a unprotected 1st pick.

Ofc not, especially in context of Lakers.

Lakers have two uber elite PGs and by just using blueprint from Dallas books two years ago, center they are searching for has to be massive vertical lob treat.

Carter offers nothing on offense. He is too heavy to catch ally oops without gathering, and he can't shoot to be worth kicking out.

Carter's whole basketball strength is good anticipation on defense and solid ability to survive switching. And from time to time he can rebound. Plus, he has been hurt every single year.


Vertical spacing for C is new normal. And Magic have 3 centers and not a single one of them is capable of catching lobs in traffic.

For context of that Dallas team that went to finals, they got 78% FG from Gafford and Livley off all oops dunked on 90 FGA.

Carter played his best season in nba on 22-60 team, as PF. Ever since, it's decline and downhill.

Further more, why he is not serious option for Lakers. Context of match ups. Vs Cavs, Mobley and Allen swallowed him. Vs Celtics he couldn't have better matchup . Grandpa Horford, who is 15 years older than him (oldest nba player ? ) and hobbling Porzingis who couldn't even stay on court. + nba meme Kornett. And he still wasn't dominant. Was rather pedestrian 10 ppg-11 rpg, 0,4 bpg . Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

You send him on West expecting him to deal with Zubac, Wemby, Gobert, Chet/I Hart, Jokić, Segun/Adams?

Zubac grabbed 9 offensive rebounds over him , Carter had 4 rebounds total.
vs Gobert, Gobert had 12-12, Carter had 2 rebounds & 4 points in 32 min
vs Segun, Segun had 6 offensive rebounds (14 points, 14 rebounds)
vs Raptors Barnes & Poeltl combined for 20 rebounds (7 offensive ), Carter had 6


We can't have stars on 5 positions, and it's fine. But Magic should seek for more diversity among Cs. Not just 3 carbon copies of same player, with identical issues for all 3.
Actually 2. I think Isaac's attempt to play C is finally over. When (if) Moe is back, he is another C who offers no vertical spacing (and not so much lateral spacing as well).

Tldr summary: You can't have everything.

[basketballRob]

Knecht is a bad player who fell out of the rotation on a mediocre team last season. He's 24 and likely won't improve much.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[eyriq]

Would you entertain a similar trade to what LAL offered Charlotte for Williams?

Wendell Carter Jr

For

Dalton Knect
2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
2030 pick swap

Goga becomes full time starter and Orlando replenishes some draft pick equity.

I admit, if we’re serious about competing this year this trade does NOT make us better. However, this may help acquire future talent.

I don't think WCJ is worth anywhere near a unprotected 1st pick.

Ofc not, especially in context of Lakers.

Lakers have two uber elite PGs and by just using blueprint from Dallas books two years ago, center they are searching for has to be massive vertical lob treat.

Carter offers nothing on offense. He is too heavy to catch ally oops without gathering, and he can't shoot to be worth kicking out.

Carter's whole basketball strength is good anticipation on defense and solid ability to survive switching. And from time to time he can rebound. Plus, he has been hurt every single year.


Vertical spacing for C is new normal. And Magic have 3 centers and not a single one of them is capable of catching lobs in traffic.

For context of that Dallas team that went to finals, they got 78% FG from Gafford and Livley off all oops dunked on 90 FGA.

Carter played his best season in nba on 22-60 team, as PF. Ever since, it's decline and downhill.

Further more, why he is not serious option for Lakers. Context of match ups. Vs Cavs, Mobley and Allen swallowed him. Vs Celtics he couldn't have better matchup . Grandpa Horford, who is 15 years older than him (oldest nba player ? ) and hobbling Porzingis who couldn't even stay on court. + nba meme Kornett. And he still wasn't dominant. Was rather pedestrian 10 ppg-11 rpg, 0,4 bpg . Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

You send him on West expecting him to deal with Zubac, Wemby, Gobert, Chet/I Hart, Jokić, Segun/Adams?

Zubac grabbed 9 offensive rebounds over him , Carter had 4 rebounds total.
vs Gobert, Gobert had 12-12, Carter had 2 rebounds & 4 points in 32 min
vs Segun, Segun had 6 offensive rebounds (14 points, 14 rebounds)
vs Raptors Barnes & Poeltl combined for 20 rebounds (7 offensive ), Carter had 6


We can't have stars on 5 positions, and it's fine. But Magic should seek for more diversity among Cs. Not just 3 carbon copies of same player, with identical issues for all 3.
Actually 2. I think Isaac's attempt to play C is finally over. When (if) Moe is back, he is another C who offers no vertical spacing (and not so much lateral spacing as well).

I love this breakdown and this concept of vertical spacing! Great post.