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NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Trade deadline recap

By Corey Rausch

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 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)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 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) /
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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

. 15-30. Previous: 28th. Orlando Magic. 28. team. 38

Last Week: Lost to Boston Celtics 112-96, Lost to Denver Nuggets 110-99, Beat Phoenix Suns 112-111, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 112-105

This Week: 3/28 at Los Angeles Lakers, 3/30 at LA Clippers, 4/1 at New Orleans Pelicans, 4/3 at Utah Jazz

We have officially entered a new era of Orlando Magic basketball. After weeks of speculation, the Magic traded the face of the franchise Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. The injuries to the rest of their core presented Orlando with a chance to go in another direction and they have dived right into that direction as of the deadline.

Starting with the least impactful and working out way up, Fournier was traded to the Boston Celtics for two future second-round picks and Jeff Teague, who will be immediately waived. Fournier has been a solid scorer for the Magic but with a free agency payday just a couple of months away getting anything back for him made sense.

Aaron Gordon, at long last, has been shipped out. One of the favorite names to bandy about in trade rumors, Gordon is finally going to a team that will use him in the right role. Gordon and Gary Clark were sent to the Denver Nuggets for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and future protected first-round pick. Harris is a good veteran for this team (as evidenced by the reactions from the young players in Denver) and Hampton is a lottery ticket. The Magic showed interest in him in the draft and now they get a chance to see what they can get out of him.

Then there is Vucevic. Finally deciding to move on from Vucevic has jump-started the rebuild for the Magic. Bringing in Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and two top-four protected picks. Now looking at a slate of young player including Carter, Hampton, Chuma Okeke, Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba and Cole Anthony the Magic have a path to a top pick this year to further the rebuild.