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NBA Trade Rumors: 15 Teams That Should Trade For Al Horford

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shows emotion after a made shot against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Pacers 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shows emotion after a made shot against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Pacers 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks to pass the ball as Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) defends during the second half at Philips Arena. The Magic won 117-110 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Orlando Magic

As I’ve stated many times in these hypothetical trade scenarios, trading Victor Oladipo would make little to no sense for the Orlando Magic. They’re in the middle of a youth movement, Al Horford wouldn’t fit in with this team’s current direction and despite having a down season in his first year under head coach Scott Skiles, Oladipo still has the highest ceiling of any player on Orlando’s roster.

But the Magic are looking for a veteran presence and have reportedly been open to including Oladipo or Tobias Harris in a trade. With the Hawks, that could include multiple trade possibilities for Jeff Teague or for Horford, so puzzling though it may be, we’ve got to entertain this unlikely scenario.

For the Magic, adding a veteran presence who still has a ton of on-court value is clearly appealing. Horford would help Orlando make a potential run for one of the East’s final playoff spots, while Oladipo and a stretch-big like Channing Frye would be obvious, idyllic fits for Atlanta both in the short-term and long-term.

This might be one of the best returns the Hawks could realistically ask for, but Orlando would be foolish to make a trade like this, especially without a guarantee that Horford would re-sign and play the role of babysitter for such a young group. The Magic could offer Horford the max, but he’d probably be more inclined to join a competitive team where he could compete for a title before his prime is done.

It may be painful to have gone 4-16 to start off 2016, but the Magic are still better off letting the younger players jell together than making a hasty decision like this — one that wouldn’t even guarantee their veteran two-way presence stays beyond this season. Even with Oladipo’s troubling fit this season, this would be a bizarre turn of events for Orlando’s ongoing youth movement.

Next: No. 7

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