3 potential Orlando Magic trade candidates

2. Terrence Ross

If Evan Fournier is an example of trading a player while his value is at a peak, then Terrence Ross represents the opposite side of the coin. Last year was among his best in the league, as he was one of the best sixth men in the league. Offensively he was great off the bench, averaging a career-high 15.1 points per game on 38.3 percent from 3-point range.

This season, however, Ross has just been off, although this is not all on him. He knew his role clearly last season and while it hasn’t changed all that much in theory, the reality is he’s not always the first person off the bench anymore, with injuries to other players being one of the key reasons for that.

Michael Carter-Williams has been a guy head coach Steve Clifford has turned to first for some games, but he has missed time through injury. With Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac all missing portions of the season (and in Isaac’s case, probably the rest of it), the Magic have had to move players around in order to compete.

Throughout that time however, Ross has never started a game, showing the Orlando Magic believe him to be the perfect option off the bench. He could be exactly that for a contending team as well though, which is why he is on this list. He re-signed for four years, $54 million before the season, but his deal is a team-friendly one.

At 28 and in his prime, like Fournier, the amount of time remaining on the deal that Ross has makes him even more appealing. Other organizations such as the Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat may see themselves as a piece away from being true contenders and the skill set of Ross is exactly what is needed for complementary players in the league today.

He moves without the ball, does not need it in his hands a lot, is excellent working around screens and is able to get hot in a hurry. The 103.8 defensive rating that the Magic have when he is on the court is better than the 105.1 that they’ve posted for their season as a whole and really Ross is a capable defender as well.

There is so much to like about his game, it just isn’t happening for him in Orlando at this moment because injuries and lineup changes. Momentum could swing in his favor again though and Ross is a fan favorite regardless. His trade value will remain more consistent than anybody else on this list though, because of what he can do, his age and the longevity of his contract.