Three Players the Orlando Magic Should Trade at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline

With the majority of the 2021-2022 NBA Season in the past, there have been shares of overperforming and underperforming teams in both conferences. The Orlando Magic don’t fit this bill, as they have met everyone’s expectations this season. Sitting at 12-41 and 15th in the Eastern Conference, the Magic are poised to have the best Draft Lottery odds for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. If Orlando wants to solidify this at the season’s end, then they should have another fire sale at the NBA Trade Deadline on February 10th. While the Magic are one of the NBA’s youngest teams, they have three veteran players that will likely be sought for in Trade Talks by next Thursday. With this said, trading any of these three players for future assets would go a long way in rebuilding the Orlando Magic.

1. Shooting Guard Terrence Ross

While Ross has been one of Orlando’s most consistent players over his six years in the Sunshine State, it may be time to part ways with the 30-year-old. To begin, Ross’ offensive production may not be better than it currently is. This season, Ross has been the driving force of Orlando’s bench unit, averaging 11.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG while shooting 40.7% from the field and 31.4% from downtown. Ross’ contract is also affordable for any team, as he’s set to make just $13.5 million over the final two seasons of his four-year, $54 million contract he signed with the Magic in 2019. Trading Ross would benefit Orlando’s slew of young, promising guards by opening up more playing time. Between Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and R.J. Hampton, Ross just won’t have a defined role in Orlando’s rotation moving forward.

2. Shooting Guard Gary Harris

Fresh off his best statistical season since the 2017-2018 season, Orlando should try to sell high on Harris’ value at the Trade Deadline. In 45 games this season, Harris is averaging 11.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.9 APG while shooting 44.5% from the field, 38.2% from three-point range, and 84.9% from the stripe. At just 27-years-old, Harris is still in the peak of his prime and can certainly elevate a playoff-contending team this summer. It’s also worth noting that Harris is in the final year of his four-year, $84 million contract, making $20.4 million this season. With his contract set to expire this offseason, Orlando would be smart to trade Harris now for future assets while opening up more playing time to their younger players. Trading Harris now would give Orlando another trade exception to use in future trades.

3. Center Robin Lopez

When the Magic signed Lopez to a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason, they knew exactly what they would be getting from the journeyman center. In addition to his veteran leadership, Lopez has given Orlando solid-level rim protection and some goofy moments. Statistically, Lopez has had a typical season in Orlando, averaging 8.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.8 APG in 18.0 MPG. In spite of this, the Magic should have no business with keeping Lopez past this offseason. Like Ross and Harris, Lopez has taken valuable playing time from Orlando’s promising group of developmental players. Sooner or later, Jonathan Isaac will rejoin the Magic’s rotation, rookie sensation Franz Wagner has exceeded all expectations, and Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba have taken sizeable leaps this season. Knowing this, trading Lopez for draft compensation would be the best-case scenario for Orlando’s continuous rebuild.

(Featured image by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)