Reactions to the Orlando Magic at the 2021 Trade Deadline

Being a fan of the Orlando Magic is a different kind of experience. There’s a saying along the lines of the “the highs were high and the lows were low” that isn’t applicable to that fan experience. Our lows range from mediocre to unwatchable, and our highs don’t particularly exist. Most of us are, however; optimists. We get glimpses of something great, Isaac in the bubble or Fultz during our first 10 games, and talk ourselves into highs that don’t actually exist. Sometimes it’s due to injury, see Fultz and Isaac, and sometimes due to favorable scheduling. Years ago, the first article I ever wrote professionally was published on LastWordOnSports and it was all about the Orlando Magic tanking for a better future…4 years ago. That future is now. Over the last few weeks we’ve had trade rumors revolving around Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, and all-star center Nikola Vucevic. Today those rumors turned into a full on fire sale and we need to break down those moves together.

The Orlando Magic trade All-Star Nikola Vucevic (C) and Al-Farouq Aminu (F) to the Chicago Bulls for Wendell Carter JR (C), Otto Porter JR (F) and 2 First Round Picks

Nikola Vucevic has been one of the more polarizing players for Your Orlando Magic over the last few years for me. He has been the crown jewel for all 4 teams involved in the massive Dwight Howard trade in 2012, and has improved every season for us. Over the last three years, Vuc has been an All-Star twice and has averaged 21.6 points and 11.5 rebounds during that stretch. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid have averaged more in that same time frame. By that company, Vucevic is elite. By that same standard, I’ve been championing the idea of trading Vucevic. We’re not winning with him, so we should get as much as we possibly can before he leaves. You sell while the stonk is at an all-time high, until this season. I finally decided to embrace our king, and fully wished he’d retire here owning all of our records, so I fully take the blame here. My change of heart led to our shipping out of Vucevic. He will seemingly finish 3rd all time in points and 2nd in rebounds for the Magic, and I loved every one of them.

Now that I’ve poured out my heart to Nikola Vucevic, let’s look at the deal for Orlando. Wendell Carter Jr was selected just one pick after current Magic center Mo Bamba in 2018. The pair have been underwhelming thus far in their careers, but a change of scenery could be ideal for Carter. He’s averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds despite playing alongside the super ball dominant Zach Lavine. Carter offers great upside for Orlando as his skill set is complementary to both Bamba and the currently rehabbing Jonathan Isaac. He also offers, at least theoretically speaking, the ability to stretch the floor as he’s shooting 36% from the 3pt line on the season. Most importantly, Carter fits in well with the young core moving forward. Mo Bamba is probably excited about this deal as well as this will fully allow him to play in an expanded capacity. The Orlando Magic must finally see what they have let him get as much run as possible during the closing stage of this season. The two first round picks from Chicago are from the 2021 and 2023 drafts, and are both top 4 protected. In 2023 there’s a good chance it can net a lottery pick. Otto Porter Jr’s biggest contribution to the Orlando Magic will happen in the summer when his almost 30 million dollar contract will come off the cap. Trade Grade: B+

The Orlando Magic trade Evan Fournier (G/F) to the Boston Celtics for two 2nd round picks

Remember all those conflicting feelings I have about us trading Vuc? Yeah I don’t really have too many of them for Fournier. Though he was averaging just under 20 a game and almost 39% from three this year, it feels like much more of a contract year mirage than anything else. Fournier offers depth and secondary creation for the Celtics moving forward. The Orlando Magic made an astute decision to trade Fournier who had no plans to resign with the team after his contract was set to expire this summer, but it is a bit disappointing that they only netted a few 2nd rounders for the versatile offensive player. For every Manu or Jokic taken in the second round, there are hundreds of Travis Diener’s and Romero Osby’s. Trade Grade D+

The Orlando Magic trade Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark to the Denver Nuggets for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a 1st Round Pick

The Orlando Magic drafted Aaron Gordon in 2014. This hurt for a few reasons: the draft had 3 absolute studs, Andrew Wiggins (jury’s still out), Jabari Parker (2 major knee injuries in 1st 3 seasons), and Joel Embiid (superstar), were all out of our reach with Orlando picking at number 4. We were set to take the Latvian Hammer Kristaps Porzingis until he pulled out of the draft at the 11th hour, fun fact he went at 4 in 2015 when we picked Hezonja at 5 so we missed out on him twice, so we took AG at 4. A raw athlete who drew comps to Blake Griffin and Shawn Marion. We never got the superstar version of Gordon but he did lose the Dunk Contest…TWICE. In all honesty we never let him play as a power forward completely or unleash him as a small ball 5, with his departure, we will see a lot more of rookie Chuma Okeke and Isaac at power forward when healthy.

The haul for AG is potentially massive. First we have Gary Harris who, before injury, was growing into a seemingly prototypical 3 and D wing. At just 26 he offers elite defense on the wing and possible spacing. He also will be expiring in 2022, so it’s not a completely long commitment. Barring the change of scenery reinvigorating his career, he will be a tradeable asset at worst moving forward. RJ Hampton is a combo guard with an extremely high ceiling. He was in some circles considered to be the best recruit of his class, but turned down Duke to play professional basketball in Australia’s version of Canada aka New Zealand. Though he’s played sparingly for the Nuggets this year, I fully expect that to change as the Orlando Magic will fully embrace a youth movement, and bottom out completely in hopes of securing the best odds to draft future stud Cade Cunningham. Hampton, Fultz, Isaac, Chuma, Bamba, Carter JR, Cole Anthony, and whoever the Magic draft in 2021 could be an extremely versatile and deadly group moving forward. The pick from Denver will not convey until 2025, so there’s a chance that Denver could be bad by that point and it can be a steal. Trade Grade: A

Individually, it’s easy to quibble with these moves, but a holistic view looks much better. We just traded Vucevic, Gordon, and Fournier for a stud defender, 2 potential stars, 3 first round picks, and 2 second round picks. This is as good as it’s going to get, and it allows us to secure better picks in the near future while nurturing our current group of young players. In order for the forest to regrow, sometimes it has to burn. Now that the Magic have fully embraced the tank, all that’s left is hope, and as my queen Jyn Erso once said “rebellions championships are built on hope.”