Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[eyriq]

Barring a breakout season, AB isn't going to make any more than 10 per year, if that. This CBA is squeezing non-starters. Jett will likely get a pay cut. One of Goga/WCJ will be moved. JI is likely being monitored closely. The money saved in said moves, will go to Mo and cheaper role players. I don't see any hard decisions that need to be made unless Suggs can't stay healthy or Paolo/Franz don't learn how to shoot.

How much did NAW make? AB is younger and already better.

AB had a better season last year than NAW? Ain't no way...

Give me AB over NAW, and it's not just about the future.

While their scoring is identical, the on-court impact tells a different story. At just 21, AB is already a disruptive defensive force, nearly doubling NAW's steals and posting a vastly superior Defensive Box Plus/Minus (1.2 vs 0.4).

NAW is a solid rotation player at 26, but he is what he is. AB is an elite defensive guard whose offense is still developing. You take the 21-year-old with game-changing defensive potential every single time.

Category	Anthony Black	Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Advantage
Points	9.4	9.4	Even
Rebounds	2.9	3.2	NAW
Assists	3.1	2.7	AB
Stocks (STL+BLK)	1.7	1.0	AB
PER	11.6	11.6	Even

[VFX]

Weird random argument.

Nobody brought up NAW, who was a 6moty candidate last season averaging 25mpg.
Last I checked, NAW was a wing defender role player and not a starting point guard at any point in his career.

Is the argument that AB is being compared to 2/3 wings now, so he's more deserving of $15m/4 even if the system isnt missing those wings now in a Bane/Franz lineup where both guys will probably see 34+ mpg.

[eyriq]

Weird random argument.

Nobody brought up NAW, who was a 6moty candidate last season averaging 25mpg.
Last I checked, NAW was a wing defender role player and not a starting point guard at any point in his career.

Is the argument that AB is being compared to 2/3 wings now, so he's more deserving of $15m/4 even if the system isnt missing those wings now in a Bane/Franz lineup where both guys will probably see 34+ mpg.

NAW being a 6MOTY candidate is exactly why its a good comp. Consider NAW's market value, which has him making an AAV of $15M, that is 5/6th man money. They have nearly identical scoring and PER right now. The argument is that AB produces those numbers while being a significantly better and more versatile defender at a much younger age. Also, its about role, not position, a nuance you and others fail to comprehend. Both are big guards (6'5 to 6'7) whose primary value comes from defensive versatility. AB isn't your definition of a pure PG, and NAW isn't a pure wing. They are modern perimeter players.

It's not about pigeonholing AB as a 'wing'. It's about recognizing that his future role is that of a defensive Swiss Army knife who can guard the opponent's best perimeter player, regardless of whether he's playing alongside Suggs, Franz, or Paolo. NAW is one of the league's best examples of that archetype right now.

NAW is AB's floor. He'll make a lot more money on his extension than you or others seem to appreciate.

[Bensational]

NAW was my fav pick for us in that draft class, and he had a much more versatile game coming into the league from college. Seemed like a perfect systems/glue guy who could do it all - shoot, pass, defend. He had a breakout summer league and then never really showed those flashes ever again, but he has rounded out into a high level depth player.

[thelead]

How much did NAW make? AB is younger and already better.

AB had a better season last year than NAW? Ain't no way...

Give me AB over NAW, and it's not just about the future.

While their scoring is identical, the on-court impact tells a different story. At just 21, AB is already a disruptive defensive force, nearly doubling NAW's steals and posting a vastly superior Defensive Box Plus/Minus (1.2 vs 0.4).

NAW is a solid rotation player at 26, but he is what he is. AB is an elite defensive guard whose offense is still developing. You take the 21-year-old with game-changing defensive potential every single time.

Category	Anthony Black	Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Advantage
Points	9.4	9.4	Even
Rebounds	2.9	3.2	NAW
Assists	3.1	2.7	AB
Stocks (STL+BLK)	1.7	1.0	AB
PER	11.6	11.6	Even

Ignoring everything you said... more importantly, did chatgpt help you with that table?

I did not know we could do tables here (phpBB?) but that syntax does not look like fun to put together manually

[eyriq]

AB had a better season last year than NAW? Ain't no way...

Give me AB over NAW, and it's not just about the future.

While their scoring is identical, the on-court impact tells a different story. At just 21, AB is already a disruptive defensive force, nearly doubling NAW's steals and posting a vastly superior Defensive Box Plus/Minus (1.2 vs 0.4).

NAW is a solid rotation player at 26, but he is what he is. AB is an elite defensive guard whose offense is still developing. You take the 21-year-old with game-changing defensive potential every single time.

Category	Anthony Black	Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Advantage
Points	9.4	9.4	Even
Rebounds	2.9	3.2	NAW
Assists	3.1	2.7	AB
Stocks (STL+BLK)	1.7	1.0	AB
PER	11.6	11.6	Even

Ignoring everything you said... more importantly, did chatgpt help you with that table?

I did not know we could do tables here (phpBB?) but that syntax does not look like fun to put together manually

Gemini did! It's beautiful isn't it?

[Idiosyncratic]

Weird random argument.

Nobody brought up NAW, who was a 6moty candidate last season averaging 25mpg.
Last I checked, NAW was a wing defender role player and not a starting point guard at any point in his career.

Is the argument that AB is being compared to 2/3 wings now, so he's more deserving of $15m/4 even if the system isnt missing those wings now in a Bane/Franz lineup where both guys will probably see 34+ mpg.

I remember NAW being drafted with the thought he could play some PG and remember him playing there quite a bit his rookie year and then a lot less in later years.

I actually think NAW is a pretty good player type comp though, but if AB ever gets his 3 point shooting anywhere near NAW's he will be a much better player because he is better at everything else IMO. Big IF though, especially in today's NBA where that consistent shot is one of the most important things for role players, right next to defense. NAW before he was hitting on 38% of his 3s was not very relevant, basically took him until his 5th season to get there.

I'm mostly of the belief that AB will be a 2/3 type player that can still play "PG" when on the floor with ball dominant players. Could be a very similar path to NAW where he will only become a winning level role player once he gets a bit more consistent from 3. Probably doesn't need to get quite as good as NAW from deep because I think he will be a better defender and driver, but still obviously needs to do better than the 32% from last year.

[Idiosyncratic]

Barring a breakout season, AB isn't going to make any more than 10 per year, if that. This CBA is squeezing non-starters. Jett will likely get a pay cut. One of Goga/WCJ will be moved. JI is likely being monitored closely. The money saved in said moves, will go to Mo and cheaper role players. I don't see any hard decisions that need to be made unless Suggs can't stay healthy or Paolo/Franz don't learn how to shoot.

They should extend AB asap if they can get him around that number next offseason IMO.

I think Jett and Tyus are extremely likely to be gone.

I don't think Wendell is going anywhere unless they fail to meet expectations this year and he performs poorly. One of Mo, Isaac and Goga will very likely have to go in the offseason or at the deadline IMO, potentially even two of them.

If AB doesn't take a step forward there probably is a world where they look to move him and restock a pick or two, but I hope they keep him.

I agree though I don't think anything crazy happens unless this team really fails. And for now let's hope they don't and that we can just enjoy a really good season and worry about roster moves next summer.

[pepe1991]

Barring a breakout season, AB isn't going to make any more than 10 per year, if that. This CBA is squeezing non-starters. Jett will likely get a pay cut. One of Goga/WCJ will be moved. JI is likely being monitored closely. The money saved in said moves, will go to Mo and cheaper role players. I don't see any hard decisions that need to be made unless Suggs can't stay healthy or Paolo/Franz don't learn how to shoot.

They should extend AB asap if they can get him around that number next offseason IMO.

I think Jett and Tyus are extremely likely to be gone.

I don't think Wendell is going anywhere unless they fail to meet expectations this year and he performs poorly. One of Mo, Isaac and Goga will very likely have to go in the offseason or at the deadline IMO, potentially even two of them.

If AB doesn't take a step forward there probably is a world where they look to move him and restock a pick or two, but I hope they keep him.

I agree though I don't think anything crazy happens unless this team really fails. And for now let's hope they don't and that we can just enjoy a really good season and worry about roster moves next summer.

Wizards are one of teams that comes to my mind that have aaaaaa loooooooooooooooooot of money. And lot of money they need to spend due high salary floor required.

So there is a chance that somebody will just throw $20M a year for s*** and giggles.

[GelbeWand09]

Tyus is on an expiring contract as is Moritz. If they were so essential Weltman would have locked them up. Priorities get long-term money and Tyus and Moritz didn't get long-term money.

So you believe there is enough evidence of offense in the second unit without those two players generating looks?

Thats certainly an interesting take.

You either believe Mosely will stagger every single lineup, or you think Da SIlva and Anthony Black are going to reach an exponential level offensively that nobody has seen up to this point (preseason included).

I expect Tyus to juice the bench lineup a bit and for Mosley to stagger.

I project AB to be an average offensive player this season, we can monitor with oNet from ESPN (net points) and PER. oNet around 0 and a per around 15 would represent a nice jump for AB and would place him in quality starter territory given his already stellar defense.

For Tristan, I think the offensive versatility and shooting are real.

But no, we don't have an obvious sparkplug scorer outside of Moritz, Jase, and Jett. Moritz is injured, Jase is a rookie, and Jett is a project so we'll need to stagger our core four.

Regardless of AB, but PER is a joke of a stat, that is slightly above the NBA 2K rating and really shouldn't play a role in arguments.

[eyriq]

So you believe there is enough evidence of offense in the second unit without those two players generating looks?

Thats certainly an interesting take.

You either believe Mosely will stagger every single lineup, or you think Da SIlva and Anthony Black are going to reach an exponential level offensively that nobody has seen up to this point (preseason included).

I expect Tyus to juice the bench lineup a bit and for Mosley to stagger.

I project AB to be an average offensive player this season, we can monitor with oNet from ESPN (net points) and PER. oNet around 0 and a per around 15 would represent a nice jump for AB and would place him in quality starter territory given his already stellar defense.

For Tristan, I think the offensive versatility and shooting are real.

But no, we don't have an obvious sparkplug scorer outside of Moritz, Jase, and Jett. Moritz is injured, Jase is a rookie, and Jett is a project so we'll need to stagger our core four.

Regardless of AB, but PER is a joke of a stat, that is slightly above the NBA 2K rating and really shouldn't play a role in arguments.

It's actually not? It is exactly what the formula says it is and is extremely correlated with positive offensive box score output. People used it as a one metric measure of player quality and it isn't a great one for that purpose, which is why it gets a bad rap. It's an awesome metric if you interpret it correctly.

[Skybox]

Barring a breakout season, AB isn't going to make any more than 10 per year, if that. This CBA is squeezing non-starters. Jett will likely get a pay cut. One of Goga/WCJ will be moved. JI is likely being monitored closely. The money saved in said moves, will go to Mo and cheaper role players. I don't see any hard decisions that need to be made unless Suggs can't stay healthy or Paolo/Franz don't learn how to shoot.

They should extend AB asap if they can get him around that number next offseason IMO.

I think Jett and Tyus are extremely likely to be gone.

I don't think Wendell is going anywhere unless they fail to meet expectations this year and he performs poorly. One of Mo, Isaac and Goga will very likely have to go in the offseason or at the deadline IMO, potentially even two of them.

If AB doesn't take a step forward there probably is a world where they look to move him and restock a pick or two, but I hope they keep him.

I agree though I don't think anything crazy happens unless this team really fails. And for now let's hope they don't and that we can just enjoy a really good season and worry about roster moves next summer.

Wizards are one of teams that comes to my mind that have aaaaaa loooooooooooooooooot of money. And lot of money they need to spend due high salary floor required.

So there is a chance that somebody will just throw $20M a year for s*** and giggles.

They'd be a good fit as they are loaded with young PGs and could use a nice long defensive wing

Seriously, can we move this to the AB and eyriq advanced stats vs the world thread?

[pepe1991]

They should extend AB asap if they can get him around that number next offseason IMO.

I think Jett and Tyus are extremely likely to be gone.

I don't think Wendell is going anywhere unless they fail to meet expectations this year and he performs poorly. One of Mo, Isaac and Goga will very likely have to go in the offseason or at the deadline IMO, potentially even two of them.

If AB doesn't take a step forward there probably is a world where they look to move him and restock a pick or two, but I hope they keep him.

I agree though I don't think anything crazy happens unless this team really fails. And for now let's hope they don't and that we can just enjoy a really good season and worry about roster moves next summer.

Wizards are one of teams that comes to my mind that have aaaaaa loooooooooooooooooot of money. And lot of money they need to spend due high salary floor required.

So there is a chance that somebody will just throw $20M a year for s*** and giggles.

They'd be a good fit as they are loaded with young PGs and could use a nice long defensive wing

Seriously, can we move this to the AB and eyriq advanced stats vs the world thread?

I think i moved more to GB because i got so fed up reading about Fultz, Black and other irrelevant role players.
Like... i spent one summer talking about nothing but Elf Payton. if guy ever dedicated that much time working out on his game, as i spent watching, rewatching and dissecting his game, he would have been all star.

[Skybox]

Wizards are one of teams that comes to my mind that have aaaaaa loooooooooooooooooot of money. And lot of money they need to spend due high salary floor required.

So there is a chance that somebody will just throw $20M a year for s*** and giggles.

They'd be a good fit as they are loaded with young PGs and could use a nice long defensive wing

Seriously, can we move this to the AB and eyriq advanced stats vs the world thread?

I think i moved more to GB because i got so fed up reading about Fultz, Black and other irrelevant role players.
Like... i spent one summer talking about nothing but Elf Payton. if guy ever dedicated that much time working out on his game, as i spent watching, rewatching and dissecting his game, he would have been all star.

Believe me - I get it. I'm working on my valuation of time and energy myself this isnt' the way to do it but I can't resist a provocative take. If I was a fish, I'd be on a plate pretty quick.

[MasterGMer]

Actually we need to think about on one hand to increase the talent and sustain the current level, the other hand of how to cope with the 2nd Apron. Those two things should go hand in hand. We may even have the motivation to make a trade simply because of sustaining the cap. In my opinion, this is not merely waiving a player or let a expiring salary go. This could also be a major trade, even including our one of the core players.

How is that change going to go down? Idk. As of right now, there seems to be no context or substances. But in the future when opportunity comes, we need to have both motives

[eyriq]

Actually we need to think about on one hand to increase the talent and sustain the current level, the other hand of how to cope with the 2nd Apron. Those two things should go hand in hand. We may even have the motivation to make a trade simply because of sustaining the cap. In my opinion, this is not merely waiving a player or let a expiring salary go. This could also be a major trade, even including our one of the core players.

How is that change going to go down? Idk. As of right now, there seems to be no context or substances. But in the future when opportunity comes, we need to have both motives

I think there’s a decision choke point coming once AB’s extension talks begin. An under–second-apron build doesn’t seem sustainable beyond that point. The core four are expensive but reasonably priced in isolation. The issue is additive cost. You simply can’t afford to stack another above–MLE-level contract on top of what’s already there, with WCJ already one and JI hovering just below.

To realistically stay under the second apron, one or more of Suggs, JI, WCJ, or AB will likely have to be moved for cap flexibility. In my view, Bane, Paolo, and Franz form the true foundation; everything else is fluid and potentially expendable.

[dsg2021]

The bar is much higher than leading a team to 47 wins now. They can't both be poor 3 pt shooters if we want to win a championship. One will have to get traded eventually if they never improve from deep.

They probably can, TBH. Basketball is pretty complex.

OKC just won the title with their top 3 players shooting respectively 28.3%, 30.4% and 29.7% from 3 in the playoffs and even worse than that in the finals and against Denver. So there is hope.

Wow, crazy stuff. Gives us a lot of hope.

[Orlando Dawg]

Right now AB is no better than the temporary scrubs.
A more happy version of Fultz.
Magic aren’t going to make the same mistake back to back with Black.
Trade him for anything they can get.

[Skybox]

Just a thought exercise for now... If our offense jumps to where it should be with Bane and Tyus enhancing the playmaking, scoring, and efficiency (definitely possible that Suggs takes a playmaking leap with so many weapons too), AB could definitely find himself the odd man out - especially with the prospect of an extension looming. Assuming our elite defense doesn't fall apart with the additions of Bane, Tyus, and Jase to the backcourt, ORL could find themselves testing the TD market for AB as a truly valuable chip (or they might fear holding him and marginalizing his value for too long -like they have with others)....I really like having AB and, while I don't see what eyriq sees, I think he'll become a better offensive player in time. AB himself might want a better opportunity to show what he can do in another org that will give him every chance to show he's a starter-level player and pay him accordingly. ORL's cap situation no longer allows for "hang on and pay him he might be good down the road" while other lesser-paid players are getting the immediate job done. There's definitely a role for AB here, but it may not be the one he wants and it won't pay like the one he wants. Sure - it'd be nice to keep him on a modest deal and watch him outplay that but he may not love that plan...again, if Tyus and/or Jase turn out to be an offensive godsend, and TDS takes a leap resembling his recent time with the German team, it will be tough to find minutes for AB - so this isn't just a money thing or a love thing...HE might want out without having bad feelings about the org or his teammates.

AB is still very young
He seems to have a great demeanor and defends fearlessly and at an elite level
He's big enough and agile enough to play all over the lineup and contribute in different ways.
He MIGHT have a whole other gear we haven't seen on a reliable level and some other team might lust for that vision

What would he bring back? Sadly, even if another team is drooling, the FO would probably have to focus on cost savings and draft equity and I"m not sure AB's performance to date brings back both. Leaving bigger packages out (Isaac, Goga...), what would we reasonably target in an AB move?

I'll start...
how about somebody like Trayce Jackson-Davis and a late frp? or, Kalkbrenner and some kind of pick (CHA pairing AB with Lamelo yin-yang), or, Fillipowski and a non-lottery frp? or, Maxime Raynaud and 2 srps?

Just versatile cheap big-man depth to allow us to move off of Goga and not panic if WCJ takes off a few games.