3 reasons Orlando Magic shouldn’t trade for DeMar DeRozan
By Luke Duffy
The Orlando Magic are in dire need of an offensive spark right now, but trading for DeMar DeRozan is not the answer.
At 5-7, the Orlando Magic are in a better place than they were a week ago. They have won three of their last four games and last time out against the San Antonio Spurs they did so without Jonathan Isaac, the forward who has been their best player so far this season as he looks to make the leap.
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That Spurs team featured DeMar DeRozan, the kind of player who they would love to have on their team. He is instant offense and with the Magic currently ranking 29th in that category (101.9), his services alone would see them trend closer towards the league average in that area.
Interestingly, DeRozan has been the subject of trade chatter for a while now, as the Spurs struggle to stay afloat in a Western Conference that appears to get more difficult to navigate with each passing year.
They have some young players in Texas such as Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker IV who give them hope for the future, but DeRozan doesn’t align with that.
Neither does LaMarcus Aldridge, who alongside DeRozan is the kind of win now player that will not win a championship as long as he is playing in San Antonio. The Magic have been a young team with potential and nothing more for the last number of years, but last season they flipped the switch as they made the playoffs.
Which makes the possibility of adding DeRozan to what they already have in place a fascinating one. He would add an extra dimension to their game, and in a weaker Eastern Conference may be all that is needed to cement a top four spot.
All of this sounds good on paper and it is easy to talk yourself into why this could work, but the following are three reasons this move should be avoided at all costs.