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Orlando Magic: 3 way-too-early bold predictions for 2017-18 season

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 23: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and Head Coach Frank Vogel introduce 2017 Magic Draft Picks Jonathan Issac and Wesley Iwundu during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 23: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and Head Coach Frank Vogel introduce 2017 Magic Draft Picks Jonathan Issac and Wesley Iwundu during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. The Orlando Magic make a big trade

Right now any player not named Aaron Gordon should be on the table in any potential trade negotiations.

Even he can go if the price is right. The Magic are sitting on far too many assets not to turn them into a star if the opportunity arises.

Unfortunately, the lower than expected salary cap this season makes contracts like that which Evan Fournier is on ($17 million per year over the next four years) difficult to shift.

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One area they may find joy however is in packaging up Nikola Vucevic and the $12.3 annual million he’s owed over the next two years and looking for a suitor.

The Magic could include picks to sweeten any potential deal, and also have Terrence Ross (making $10.5 million a season for the next two years) or even Payton to throw in as well.

The aim would be to make a splash and sign a big name player, but the problem there is there doesn’t seem to be any available right now.

DeMarcus Cousins is an unrestricted free agent next summer, so going after him would be risky. As would attempting to sign any unrestricted free agent really.

But it is possible the Magic shake up their roster dramatically. They’ve been running this treadmill of mediocrity too long.

Either new general manager John Hammond will be aggressive in adding talent and move whoever he needs to, or the team will bottom out once again and try to land a star player during this rebuild.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

It may seem unlikely, but don’t be surprised if this is the route the team takes as the season winds on.

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