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NBA: Teams That Can Realistically Trade for Superstars

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (L) and forward Nerlens Noel (R) work out prior to a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (L) and forward Nerlens Noel (R) work out prior to a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (12) after their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Magic won 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (12) after their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Magic won 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic

At some point, the Orlando Magic either need to break through as championship contenders or break up the roster. Even in their youth, Orlando is far too talented to justify spending yet another season below .500.

With the likes of Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, Mario Hezonja, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, and Nikola Vucevic at his disposal, Rob Hennigan can land a genuine superstar in Orlando.

Harris is in the first season of a four-year, $64 million contract, and Vucevic is in the first season of a four-year, $53 million deal. Both are very affordable contracts that a team would readily welcome at the heart of a deal for a superstar player.

Oladipo, meanwhile, is a rising star who is making roughly $5.2 million in 2015-16, is on the books for just under $6.6 million in 2016-17, and will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

The wildcards for Orlando are Fournier and Gordon. Fournier is an intriguing scorer at the 2 with a limited ceiling in Orlando due to the way it covets Harris, Hezonja, and Oladipo along the perimeter, and Gordon established at All-Star Weekend that he’s a special athlete.

If there were ever a time for Orlando to capitalize on its extraordinary depth and land a true franchise player, it’s right now.

Next: The Value of Draft Picks