Orlando Magic: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season
By Luke Duffy
3. What trades are there to make?
As the Magic’s roster is currently shaped, it looks ripe for a trade or two before the deadline next year. This is because there is a real lack of depth at the point guard position, and a couple of players whose time may be up with the organization.
The first and most obvious of these players is Nikola Vucevic. The subject of trade rumors for years now, the Magic may ironically need him now more than ever. With Bismack Biyombo gone, the opportunity is there for Vucevic to receive more minutes.
With that being said, he still has trade value and could be used as an offensive-minded sixth man for a playoff team. Defensively, there isn’t a lot to like about his game, but those flaws would be masked if he were surrounded by better teammates.
The other player who may find himself on the outside looking in is Evan Fournier. An unthinkable prospect as recently as 18 months ago, it just feels like the organization is moving on and in a direction that Fournier is not a part of.
https://twitter.com/DA_SAUCE_GOD904/status/1021557490583056385
He is still a fantastic offensive player, and in fact he may have a bounce-back year as a result of the Magic having a lack of guards. Assuming Fournier picks up his player option in 2020-21, he will be owed $51 million between now and then.
That’ money that Orlando could do without paying him, but his $17 million annual salary wouldn’t be impossible to move either. Cap space is at a premium, and right now what Fournier is doing for this team does not justify the money he is being paid.
Whether it is Vucevic or Fournier though, you can bet the Magic will be active leading up to the trade deadline. If they haven’t already made some moves of their own before then, that is.