2021 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 fire sales that should happen

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Mason Plumlee #24 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on February 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

3 of 6

NBA trade deadline Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

Fire sale candidate No. 4: Orlando Magic

The time is up on the 2020-21 Orlando Magic. After back-to-back playoff appearances, injury luck can no longer be staved off, and the Magic are a shell of themselves as a result.

The Magic have lost four straight games and at 13-22 have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. They’re 3.0 games behind the 10th place Chicago Bulls, the current holder of the last play-in spot, and they simply don’t have the horses to hang with the rest of the conference.

They lost Jonathan Isaac in the NBA bubble last summer and they lost Markelle Fultz early this season, both for the rest of the year. Rooke Cole Anthony and Aaron Gordon are both out for the time being, and that means Nikola Vucevic is a man alone on this team trying to propel them back into the playoffs.

Vucevic is an All-Star this season and his having a tremendous campaign. While surely both he and the organization would love for him to be able to win in Orlando, that’s simply not in the cards. Getting assets for this breakout star and giving him the opportunity to win elsewhere is the move, and the Magic need to do this by the NBA trade deadline.

They also have an expiring contract in Evan Fournier, and he can provide value on the floor as well. Aaron Gordon has been shopped before and gotten very little interest around the NBA, but in an “everything must go” moment, maybe the Magic can build some traction on the trade market.

The Magic are a team that has movable parts, and they need to take advantage of that while they still can.