Orlando Magic: 3 players most likely to be traded in 2018-19

3. Jonathon Simmons

This may appear a surprising place to start, but even the most hardcore Jonathon Simmons supporters have to admit that his lone season with the Magic failed to capture the imagination.

What is more frustrating, however, is just how good he looked for the Magic early on last season. Simmons quickly established himself as the tireless defender who organized his teammates on the defensive end.

But the wheels quickly came off his season, with the wing looking flat out disinterested by the end of the campaign. Not knowing exactly what to do with Simmons didn’t help, as he spent time in and out of the starting line up (he started 50 of 69 games played).

Orlando Magic

So why trade him now? Surely his veteran leadership will be just as valuable this season with more young faces onboard? True as that may be, his potential trade value is worth exploring if the Magic want to see what they can get for a player like Simmons.

He is entering the second season of his three-year, $20 million contract, an easily moveable deal. The playing style of Simmons, selfless and putting the team first, would seem much better suited to a playoff team as well.

It is fair to wonder what a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers could have done with him last year. It can work in Orlando, but until Simmons has better teammates around him, his skill-set won’t be showcased properly.

That’s why seeing what a playoff team would be willing to part with makes sense. As the deadline approaches, a team on the postseason bubble may panic and want to add pieces for a run, or a contender could look to bolster the wing rotation.

It happens every year. The only drawback of doing so with Simmons now is that his value will have decreased somewhat as a result of his lukewarm debut season in Orlando. It depends who comes calling, but this is one player who might not spend 2018-19 in just the pinstriped blue.