Official 2025-2026 Magic Trade ideas thread

[D J C]

I want to see the Magic build the bench back up to the Ingles' days to where it was winning games for us. I think if we can get TJ McConnell to run the 2nd unit, and add Rui to replace JI's minutes we could get there

Magic Trade Goga, JI, Tyus, Jett
Receive Rui, TJ McConnell, Jaxson Hayes

Lakers add Goga, JI, Jay Huff for more size and defense
Pacers add Knecht and expirings

Suggs | Bane | Franz | Paolo | WCJ
TJ | AB | TDS | Rui | Moe
with Jase & Penda in the waiting room, and Hayes waving towels

[Skybox]

Walker Kessler... I think having a defensive backstop would allow Mose to alter his switching defense a bit and it could open things up offensively as well. All the switching is exhausting and having a mistake eraser could be a huge plus. Suggs is an absolute menace on-ball and having a guy like Kessler or a young version of Gobert behind him would make his gambling even more effective and lead to more 'offense from defense'....WCJ is really good defensively but plays it a lot differently - his positional defense holds his own, but doesn't impact the game to the same kind of degree - a guy like Kessler (Wemby isn't available) can impact every player on the other team's willingness to get in the paint (not just neutralize the opposing C). Being an elite offensive rebounder is also a massive game-changer as far as offensive possessions and options...Kessler is even showing signs of floor-spreading shooting developing.

I don't know how many good years Gobert has left and his huge salary kind of rules him out for me.

I don't know what it would take to get Kessler, but I imagine UTA wants a foundational star or frps...and we don't have picks to give.

If we had Kessler in the pivot, it might allow for a different kind of forward tandem and, perhaps, breaking up our two questionably-matched young forwards could make for a better chemistry experiment.

Could Paolo and some filler bring back BOTH Kessler AND a guy like Sabonis or Lauri? Would that frontcourt be better or worse than now?

Kessler, Markannen, Franz, Suggs, Bane with TdS/WCJ/Moe off the bench

Kessler, Sabonis, Franz, etc...Sabonis is a super smart offensive player who can really flourish in the pick and roll and now can shoot 3's as well. I think this would be a really fun and intelligent offensive team and, overall, be better defensively with Kessler's impact and coverage for everyone.

Kessler is looking for a big extension and UTA is willing to let him test the market as an RFA (or, apparently, a SnT). I think he will have Gobert-like impact but, given the 2nd Apron environment will not command the back-breaking salary that guys like Gobert have grabbed in the past. I think he gets $20m per and is immensely impactful.

Gears are turning on a 3-way where ORL sends Paolo ($41.5+ next year), Goga ($7.6) and Isaac ($14.5)
and brings back Sabonis ($45.5) and a re-upped Kessler ($20m)

I'm not sure what else SAC and UTA pay each other, but I would think Paolo commands a serious return, maybe SAC gets PB and sends UTA a bunch of picks and a young player or two? Paolo is clearly the single most valued piece in the deal, but I think it MIGHT make for a better ORL team.

Jury is definitely still out on the optimal solution and whether we just need a more creative coach or the twins don't work together to an ideal level.

[Skybox]

Perhaps Kessler is obtainable without splitting up the Franz/Paolo pairing...but is that the best path, chemistry-wise?

I don't think Kessler alone is even as "valuable" as Suggs, assuming a big raise for Kessler...but I really like the vision of Suggs defending POA with Kessler behind him...I suppose we'll have two tradable frps this summer but it would be tough to swallow that new salary without moving out quite a bit.

[VFX]

Perhaps Kessler is obtainable without splitting up the Franz/Paolo pairing...but is that the best path, chemistry-wise?

I don't think Kessler alone is even as "valuable" as Suggs, assuming a big raise for Kessler...but I really like the vision of Suggs defending POA with Kessler behind him...I suppose we'll have two tradable frps this summer but it would be tough to swallow that new salary without moving out quite a bit.

Deal would have to include Wendell Carter and probably Anthony Black if we are being honest.

There isn’t enough value elsewhere and you cannot re-sign AB while taking on whatever Kessler would make. Magic already have 3 Centers that aren’t positionally versatile. Not having picks now makes such a trade more difficult without adding young talent.

[AdamTheGreek]

Kessler is out for the season, and Ainge’s price tag would be too high.

Bogdan is getting minutes again with Beal and Kawhi out and is doing fine. Too bad our ownership won’t let go of Isaac.

Kyrie…laughable.
**** no.

McConnell’s injuries are racking up, plus the Pacers don’t want to give him up.

[Skybox]

Perhaps Kessler is obtainable without splitting up the Franz/Paolo pairing...but is that the best path, chemistry-wise?

I don't think Kessler alone is even as "valuable" as Suggs, assuming a big raise for Kessler...but I really like the vision of Suggs defending POA with Kessler behind him...I suppose we'll have two tradable frps this summer but it would be tough to swallow that new salary without moving out quite a bit.

Deal would have to include Wendell Carter and probably Anthony Black if we are being honest.

There isn’t enough value elsewhere and you cannot re-sign AB while taking on whatever Kessler would make. Magic already have 3 Centers that aren’t positionally versatile. Not having picks now makes such a trade more difficult without adding young talent.

I agree about AB...he's likely to be paid one more time on potential that he hasn't shown us...not knocking him, but our cap space is now a bigger issue than him. I'd really like to keep WCJ (and move Goga) to back up two spots and be the best backup big in the league, instead of a good but inconsistent starter. I get that his deal becomes kind of daunting, but we send out Isaac and Black first, imo...Isaac is starting to wake up tho - the ideal Isaac is certainly a keeper if we start to see him again. A Paolo deal wouldn't be until summer most likely with his max kicking in...and Kessler is out for the season. My first hope is that Paolo and Franz, in a more fluid offense, works out like a charm...but I'm feeling more and more that it may not be ideal and that Franz is more likely to start putting up Jokic-ish numbers before Paolo and Paolo is too big a presence in the league to defer to Franz AND Bane's playmaking. Hope it works, but let's not marginalize our most talented guys. Franz is truly amazingly complete...if not as "loud" a game as P.

I'm not looking to "get rid of Paolo" by any means, but if the org comes to the conclusion that it isn't an optimal pairing - a trade junkie like me can get really excited about the return for a 22yo superstar in the making. I have no doubt that Paolo blows up elsewhere and has years of All-NBA status, but I don't care until we meet in the Finals. I'm all about the team's construction.

[Skybox]

Presuming Kessler on board and Paolo out...who fits better next to Franz & Kessler - Sabonis or Lauri?

or someone else?

[Skybox]

Could even roll out...
Kessler, WCJ, Franz, in the starting lineup and, maybe, bring in a real PG and some significant depth and/or reload our picks to some degree?

[Skybox]

Just rolling with this one on this sunny FL morning...

Basing this on the concept that Paolo and Franz, while both being All-Star level young talents are proving to be somewhat redundant and just not an ideal pairing. Both are best with the ball and both like to begin possessions at the top of the key. Coach Mosley hasn't (YET) come up with a scheme that makes the most of their tremendous versatility and gets the rest of the roster out of the role of spectator...Maybe a coaching change (or time) makes this moot, but at this point, I just think you've got two amazing young talents being somewhat marginalized by one another. But anyway...

ORL sends: Paolo Banchero($41.5+ next year), Goga Bitadze ($7.6m), Anthony Black ($10.1), Jonathan Isaac ($14.5)
ORL gets: Sabonis ($45.5) and a re-upped Kessler ($22m), Nique Clifford ($3.3m)
Why: ORL rebalances their frontcourt with a defensive anchor and a PnR, high IQ PF that will click with Franz. They send out a true young superstar-in the-making in Paolo along with other decent pieces to right their ship on-court and on the cap sheet. Nasty, flowing offense with Sabonis PnR with either Franz & Bane as lead ballhandlers, Kessler anchoring the defense with Suggs harassing up top, WCJ as the best bench big in the league instead of a mediocre starter. Clifford replaces AB's defensive length and adds better shooting and rebounding on a budget. This is also an acknowledgement that Franz & Bane are more than adequate initiators and a TRUE PG isn't needed.

Kessler, WCJ, Moe
Sabonis, WCJ, Penda
Franz, TdS
Suggs, Clifford
Bane, Tyus (?), Jase

SAC sends: Sabonis ($45.5), Nique Clifford ($3.3)
SAC gets: Lauri Markannen , Goga Bitadze
Why: SAC retools on the fly with a more conventional C and a star offensive player at PF. Lavine/Markannen is a much more complementary combo of scorers than SAC currently rolls with.

UTA sends: Walker Kessler ($22m SnT), Lauri Markannen ($46.1)
UTA gets: Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac

Why: UTA gets their young cornerstone piece, under contract, to build around for the next decade, a long defensive-minded combo guard in Black to complement Keyonte Georg in a big, athletic backcourt, and a one-man defensive wrecking crew in Isaac - who either delivers (even in limited minutes or has a largely non-guaranteed deal going forward). Black and Isaac alone can create a defensive culture and be deployed vs multiple positions.


BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR MINDS WITH "PAOLO IS A GOD-WHY DO YOU HATE HIM?"...I don't - he's awesome-best player on the team, imo, but maybe not the best combo of players on the team, so I'm considering who has enough value to bring back TWO studs without adding picks - maybe we even get some back?

Simpler option is cutting out SAC to just make it Lauri & Kessler for Paolo & others...but something about Lauri gives me doubts. I remember him basically as an afterthought, good shooter in CHI...I trust Sabonis' physicality, rebounding & super high passing IQ as a better fit next to Franz. I love the idea of tough, physical WCJ living his best life as a backup, deployed at different spots against different matchups, and less depended on for big minutes.

[Husky1]

Stop with the **** Paolo trades. People were saying same stuff with Brown / Tatum. We’ll try 2-3 coaches to try and get the pairing to work before trading a future superstar

[BadMofoPimp]

Ya, you don't trade a potential superstar who is already a solid all-star for the foreseeable future for a bunch of role players. Only because he started the season slow. Fans are so short sited. There is zero chance the Magic would even consider a trade.

[MagicFan101]

I hate the “Paolo + Franz doesn’t work” narrative.

Paolo just turned 23!

For years people said the same things about Tatum & Brown … and they were right! … until they weren’t!

Orlando is lucky to have this “problem” and the worst move possible would be to blow it up before giving it a real chance to happen.

[T-Cat]

Stop with the **** Paolo trades. People were saying same stuff with Brown / Tatum. We’ll try 2-3 coaches to try and get the pairing to work before trading a future superstar

Just because you yell doesn't make you right! Charles Barkley line right there!

This team is young but financially we are maxed out as a team, why not trade one of our maxed guys for a young lottery pick next summer?

I wondered if Weltman looked at trading one of our core guys for a VJ Edgecombe this summer before going balls in on Desmond Bane? That guy has SUPERSTAR written all over him IMO!

Hopefully we'll get new management this summer because this current team is good but not championship level good!

[RichCollab]

The endless drivel thread.

[OrlandoDream]

Id be interested what Anthony Black can get us. I think he has value around the league based on his multi-position defending ability. Wish we could get Kings to send Keon Ellis here.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Id be interested what Anthony Black can get us. I think he has value around the league based on his multi-position defending ability. Wish we could get Kings to send Keon Ellis here.

Something Orlando desperately needs btw.

The only trade in my opinion that should include Black is a consolidation trade that nets Orlando a star PG or Center.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Just rolling with this one on this sunny FL morning...

Basing this on the concept that Paolo and Franz, while both being All-Star level young talents are proving to be somewhat redundant and just not an ideal pairing. Both are best with the ball and both like to begin possessions at the top of the key. Coach Mosley hasn't (YET) come up with a scheme that makes the most of their tremendous versatility and gets the rest of the roster out of the role of spectator...Maybe a coaching change (or time) makes this moot, but at this point, I just think you've got two amazing young talents being somewhat marginalized by one another. But anyway...

ORL sends: Paolo Banchero($41.5+ next year), Goga Bitadze ($7.6m), Anthony Black ($10.1), Jonathan Isaac ($14.5)
ORL gets: Sabonis ($45.5) and a re-upped Kessler ($22m), Nique Clifford ($3.3m)
Why: ORL rebalances their frontcourt with a defensive anchor and a PnR, high IQ PF that will click with Franz. They send out a true young superstar-in the-making in Paolo along with other decent pieces to right their ship on-court and on the cap sheet. Nasty, flowing offense with Sabonis PnR with either Franz & Bane as lead ballhandlers, Kessler anchoring the defense with Suggs harassing up top, WCJ as the best bench big in the league instead of a mediocre starter. Clifford replaces AB's defensive length and adds better shooting and rebounding on a budget. This is also an acknowledgement that Franz & Bane are more than adequate initiators and a TRUE PG isn't needed.

Kessler, WCJ, Moe
Sabonis, WCJ, Penda
Franz, TdS
Suggs, Clifford
Bane, Tyus (?), Jase

SAC sends: Sabonis ($45.5), Nique Clifford ($3.3)
SAC gets: Lauri Markannen , Goga Bitadze
Why: SAC retools on the fly with a more conventional C and a star offensive player at PF. Lavine/Markannen is a much more complementary combo of scorers than SAC currently rolls with.

UTA sends: Walker Kessler ($22m SnT), Lauri Markannen ($46.1)
UTA gets: Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac

Why: UTA gets their young cornerstone piece, under contract, to build around for the next decade, a long defensive-minded combo guard in Black to complement Keyonte Georg in a big, athletic backcourt, and a one-man defensive wrecking crew in Isaac - who either delivers (even in limited minutes or has a largely non-guaranteed deal going forward). Black and Isaac alone can create a defensive culture and be deployed vs multiple positions.


BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR MINDS WITH "PAOLO IS A GOD-WHY DO YOU HATE HIM?"...I don't - he's awesome-best player on the team, imo, but maybe not the best combo of players on the team, so I'm considering who has enough value to bring back TWO studs without adding picks - maybe we even get some back?

Simpler option is cutting out SAC to just make it Lauri & Kessler for Paolo & others...but something about Lauri gives me doubts. I remember him basically as an afterthought, good shooter in CHI...I trust Sabonis' physicality, rebounding & super high passing IQ as a better fit next to Franz. I love the idea of tough, physical WCJ living his best life as a backup, deployed at different spots against different matchups, and less depended on for big minutes.

This is a really really bad trade for us.

Coincidentally, this would be the equivalent to Sacramento trading Haliburton prematurely.

Sabonis isn’t a PF and Orlando comically devotes $85M + to one position.

They get worse, lose depth, dont recover any picks and lastly possibly lose a fanbase for moving Paolo so early in his career. Luka esque w/o the luxury of drafting Coop.

If Shaq walking to LA still stings decades later can you imagine the backlash of moving Paolo, regardless of what you think of him personally and his trajectory it’s just not a smart business decision at this current juncture.

[VFX]

As much as I dislike Paolo’s game, I don’t think trading him is either a realistic or a smart move.

This thread is basically going to be dead for the next 2-3 seasons now without picks. Why? Because Weltman doesn’t make trades.

The only possible trade they would make in that timeframe would have to be moving Anthony Black, Suggs, or Carter in either a move for an established point guard or a significantly better Center.

Suggs because he’s the highest value outside of Paolo/Franz without blowing it up. AB because extending him at this point is not a smart option given he’s off the bench, inconsistent, and doesn’t provide what they need. Carter because he’s the weakest position of the 5 starters and is also inconsistent compared to his potential replacements.

Out of the upgrade options between point guard and Center…one of those things is extremely unlikely (the point guard approach) and the other is just wishful thinking here from a select group of fans. Would I rather have… say…Kessler over Carter? Sure. But does Weltman feel that way? Does Mosely? Probably not at all. They see no problem with him compared to everything else.

[Magic_Johnny12]

I’m all for trading and ultimately getting better, but we all need to breathe a little.

You would think from how some of you speak were winless, but in actuality we’re literally 1.5 games out from the 2nd seed and statistically getting better each game..

[BadMofoPimp]

I like having Goga, Moe, Slim depth on the team. Could use a better backup PF and I wonder what AB/Slim could get back. Other than that, I would ride the season and see how they develop.