With the 2023 NBA trade deadline set for February Ninth at 3:00 PM ET, many expect vast amounts of player movement to occur, which has already witnessed the Dallas Mavericks acquire All-Star guard Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets on February Fifth. In reference to this, the Orlando Magic are expected to be active at the 2023 trade deadline, but are able to go in multiple directions.
With a record of 22-32, Orlando has already matched their win total from the 2021-2022 season (22-60), a telling sign of the Magic’s vast improvement and growth as a team. In reference to this, Orlando is just two games behind Washington, who currently holds the No. 10 seed and the final play-in spot. Due to going 17-12 since December Twelvth, Orlando’s front office may decide to acquire additional talent and depth at the 2023 trade deadline to make a final play-in tournament push, or to receive future assets. In order to accomplish either aforementioned goal, Orlando will likely need to part ways with multiple veteran players, which they seem more than competent with doing, per NBA Insider Marc Stein.
“The Magic are welcoming trade inquiries for Mo Bamba, Terrence Ross, and R.J. Hampton ahead of the deadline, league sources say,” Stein said on January 26th via The Stein Line. “Ross is a player, sources say, rival teams are monitoring as a potential buyout candidate if no trade materializes.”
Although Bamba, Ross, and Hampton have each signed contract extensions with Orlando over the past few years, all four players have quickly fallen out of the Magic’s rotation, which has become one of the deepest rotations in the NBA. As stated by Sports Reference, eleven different players have recorded 629+ minutes this season and thirteen players have made two or more starts for the Magic this season, a considerable amount.
This can be attributed to the improved health of Orlando’s roster, which has seen the returns of Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac, and Bol Bol, all of which missed substantial time to injury last season. With a lack of playing time and limited roles in Orlando, Bamba, Ross, and Hampton will likely be used by Orlando in a possible trade ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline.
SG/SF Terrence Ross
After trading franchise cornerstones Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier at the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline, many expected that Orlando would move Ross to his next team. As it turns out, Ross has remained in Orlando, even with the emergence of Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Caleb Houstan in the frontcourt. In reference to this, Ross has had a minimal impact for the Magic, averaging just 22.5 MPG, 8.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.3 APG in 42 games (nine starts) this season.
In spite of his poor statistical statline this season, Ross has still shown adequate signs as a three-&-d wing, providing good shooting splits on a reasonably cheap contract. For reference, Ross is shooting 43.1% from the field, 38.1% from three-point range, and 53.3% on effective field goals, all considerable improvements from the 2021-2022 season (39.7% FG, 29.2% 3P, 46.7% eFG). Likewise, Ross is in the final year of his four-year, $84 million contract he signed in 2019-2020, and is set to make $11.5 million this season. At 31 years old, Ross holds plenty of interest from other aspiring playoff teams.
“Terrence Ross has long garnered interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said,” NBA insider Jake Fischer said. “New York was in pursuit of Ross in previous years, as well. Yet, while Orlando has rebuffed offers below a first-round pick for the veteran swingman in recent seasons, sources said, it’s difficult to foresee a playoff contender sacrificing more than a single second-round selection for Ross’ services.
With a record of 25-29 and 13th place in the Western Conference, Los Angeles is expected to be aggressive in acquiring veteran talent to help support LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the remainder of the season. On January 24th, the Lakers traded guard Kendrick Nunn and three future second-round picks to the Wizards in exchange for forward Rui Hachimura, who has already played well alongside James and Davis. Ahead of February Ninth’s trade deadline, the Lakers may offer a similar package to the Magic for Ross, which may include Talen-Horton Tucker and/or muliple second-round picks.
PF/C Mo Bamba
Following the end of the 2021-2022 season, it seemed as if Bamba’s tenure in Orlando was over, as the Magic didn’t extend the qualifying offer to Bamba. As it turns out, however, the Magic resigned Bamba to a two-year, $21 Million Contract once Free Agency began, keeping him in Orlando until the 2024 season. With this said, Bamba’s future in Orlando looks bleak once again following inconsistent play and a decrease in overall playing time. After averaging a career-high 25.7 MPG, 10.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 1.7 BPG in 71 games (69 starts) last season, Bamba is averaging just 17.0 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 40 games (six starts) this season.
Before resigning Bamba in free agency, Orlando was rumored as the leading suitor for unrestricted free agent Isaiah Hartenstein, who later signed with New York for a two-year, $16 million contract. Orlando’s aforementioned pursuit of Hartenstein may serve as an indication that Bamba was the Magic’s fallback option at center, and may not be in their long-term plans after all. As it currently stands, the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors are all expected to explore the market for big men before the aforementioned trade deadline. If Orlando decides to trade Bamba, they’ll likely seek a late or lottery-protected first-round pick.
PG/SG R.J Hampton
Similar to Bamba, Hampton’s exit from Orlando seems to become more and more likely due to the past events surrounding the former No. 24 pick from the 2020 Draft. As stated by Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel, Hampton signed with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and is now represented by Agent Aaron Mintz, who also represents Ross and Harris. Hampton was previously with LIFT Sports Management, but left LIFT for the CAA after the Magic declined Hampton’s fourth-year team option on his rookie scale contract for the 2023-2024 season, making him an unrestricted free agent in the 2023 offseason.
Furthermore, Price reported that Hampton requested a temporary G League Assignment with Orlando’s Affiliate Team in Lakeland to receive more playing time. Hampton was granted the assignment, which is a big reason why Hampton has played in just 26 games this season. So far this season, Hampton is averaging 13.9 MPG, 5.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 1.3 APG while shooting 43.9% from the field, 34.0% from three-point range, and 83.8% from the free-throw line. At just 21 years old, some teams in need of a developmental guard may be interested in Hampton, such as Charlotte, Detroit, or Houston.