Hoops Habit
Fansided

A 4-team blockbuster trade involving the Miami Heat and Damian Lillard

By Simon Smith

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 22: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 22, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 22: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 22, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic

Like the Hawks, the Magic were also big players in the 2018 draft, securing center Mohamed Bamba with the fifth overall pick. After missing out on the postseason for the sixth consecutive season with a 25-57 record, the only way is up for a Magic team possessing some intriguing young pieces but still bereft of quality veteran talent.

In his fourth season, forward Aaron Gordon started to consistently demonstrate why he was selected No. 4 overall in 2014. Averaging 32.9 minutes per game, Gordon posted 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, though he appeared in only 58 contests. Now a restricted free agent, the Magic need to decide whether to invest heavily in Gordon this offseason, or decide to head in a separate direction.

Other prominent performers for the Magic this past season were starters Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic. For the second year in a row, Fournier led the scoring with 17.8 points per game, marking a rise in his scoring average for each of his six years in the league. Signed to a five-year, $85 million deal in the summer of 2016, Fournier has proven to be one of the more consistent shooting guards in the league, and has now compiled an impressive 37.9 percent clip from 3-point range for his career.

Having traded former lottery pick Elfrid Payton to the Phoenix Suns midseason, the only recognized point guard on the Magic roster is D.J. Augustin following the waiving of backup Shelvin Mack.

So while the Magic have a vital decision to make on the future of Gordon, gaining the services of a high quality, experienced floor leader to lead the likes of Bamba and second-year forward Jonathan Isaac should be just as important for the Magic front office.

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