Orlando Magic: Are you actually ready for change?

The Orlando Magic have long been an organization that has, when it has really come down to it, opted to make any major roster changes. That is most likely because the last time they did so, it involved them trading away a bright future in Victor Oladipo, for a half-season rental or Serge Ibaka. He was then turned into Terrence Ross. A fine player, but not smart business.

While that was the “disaster class” of a previous front office, the group currently in charge has learned from those mistakes and has tried to build slowly and correctly. While this has yet to yield a superstar in the draft (although Jonathan Isaac may yet be that), they did also make the correct move in acquiring Markelle Fultz from the Philadelphia 76ers.

This move bought them some time with the fans, and although he has been lost to an ACL injury like Isaac, the thought of better days ahead is enough for most right now. This is just as well, as the losing that this season has largely consisted of has been tough to take, and quite often tough to watch as well.

But now, with the trade deadline days away, it looks like change is coming the Magic’s way, whether they like it or not. Aaron Gordon, for years now put in every trade rumor imaginable, apparently actually asked to be traded (Athletic paywall) back in February. This is out there now as common knowledge, which means a deal is likely, and soon. Which begs the question;

Now that change is upon the Orlando Magic, are fans actually ready for it?

It is one thing to moan and complain on social media about the shortcomings of a franchise when they are doing nothing. It is quite another to watch as moves are actually made, with zero guarantees of success. The main concern in moving Gordon at this point is twofold. Firstly, teams now know Gordon wants out (even if most likely did already), so they know the Magic are more likely to sell.

If you know this, you’re certainly not throwing in that extra young player or possibly a pick to get the deal done, because as the clock ticks closer to the deadline, the Magic might end up coming back to you anyway to strike a deal. Second, if you look around the league right now, what is the best that the Magic could hope to get for Gordon?

A first-round draft pick (maybe two?), or a young player with some potential. If things really broke right, maybe some combination of both with a protected lower-end first-round pick, as well as a young player. What about an All-Star level talent like D’Angelo Russell or CJ McCollum? You would have to think that is not likely at this point, even if multiple teams are interested in him.

This is the risk with change, it does not always guarantee success or a better chance of getting to be successful. The wheels are in motion now, there is no denying that, but is this all unfolding at a time when what is available for the Orlando Magic in a trade is not as enticing as it once was? Is Gordon’s value as high as it was this time last year?

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All good questions, which we will soon know the answer to. From Gordon’s perspective though, when he ends up elsewhere, he will likely finally be acknowledged for the tremendous defender that he is. A change in how he is used offensively, or more likely who he is lining up beside, will also likely unlock a scoring burst as well. One that could make the Magic look foolish.

Gordon wanting out becoming common knowledge means that the Magic are signaling an intent to take a step backward, in order to hopefully take a giant step forward in the not too distant future. This isn’t a rebuild, just a soft reset of their roster, for now anyway. But don’t think that they will be done with deals if Gordon moves on.

Center Khem Birch is the kind of cheap backup big (making $3 million this year before becoming an unrestricted free agent) that other franchises would be mad not to pick up the phone and enquire about. A big body who playoff teams could deploy in some minutes against Joel Embiid. A second-round pick or cheap young player would get that deal done.

Ross is one of the more interesting players that a contender could add, and you have to think he is available at the right price as well. Two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic is likely only available for a monster haul and talks on moving him have cooled, but don’t rule it out yet.

In the end, though, you better be prepared for change to come the Orlando Magic’s way. On the one hand, it is a shame. We never got to see Fultz, Isaac, Chuma Okeke and Gordon get any sort of consistent run together. Alongside Mohamed Bamba (if Birch is moved), it would have been interesting to see if there was anything there.

Now it looks like the near future will feature Isaac, Fultz, Okeke, a high lottery pick this year, possibly Bamba and whatever else they can get back for Gordon. It is different sure, and that makes it exciting after cheering on this core as far as it was likely to go together. But different doesn’t equal better, and in the choppy moments to come, Orlando Magic fans would do well to remember that.