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Orlando Magic: NBA trade deadline winners and losers

By Luke Duffy

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets is introduced ahead of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets is introduced ahead of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic, NBA trade deadline (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

Orland Magic NBA trade deadline loser: Mohamed Bamba

The Magic continue to be active in making changes to their roster, so center Mohamed Bamba isn’t quite the loser he was the day after the trade deadline. This is because since then, fan favorite Khem Birch has moved on, signing with the Toronto Raptors. With Vucevic also out of the picture, you would think that Bamba is actually a winner.

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But that is not the case either, because of who the Magic got back in the Vucevic deal with the Chicago Bulls. Carter Jr., who was taken one spot after Bamba in the 2018 NBA Draft, has come in and right away shown the kind of promise that we kept expecting to see from Bamba. Fans already happy with his production on the court.

He is only 21, and alongside the other young guys in place, figures to be a key player here going forward. Given that the organization have in recent years whiffed on lottery picks, with the likes of Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton not working out, it has been nice to see Carter Jr. show some promise early on.

The subtractions of Vucevic and Birch don’t quite make this the disaster it was looking like being for Bamba, but it is not far from it at this point. Although he has gotten more run himself recently, the franchise have gotten in Carter Jr. a fallback option if Bamba doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity.

In truth they might have already seen enough from Carter Jr., that they are only playing Bamba more now so as to increase his trade value. The team isn’t trying to win either, so it is the kind of plan that could work out for everybody. Bamba was drafted with a view to being the starting big man for the team. The decks were cleared for a second, until Carter Jr. showed up. Now it looks like the best Bamba can hope for is a backup role, which is not where he wants to be.

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