The Orlando Magic received a surprise Thursday when the first returns from NBA All-Star voting rolled out.
No, the Magic will not have a player start in February’s game in San Francisco. They are not that popular. And their path to gaining an All-Star is a very narrow one with Paolo Banchero having played only five games so far this season (his return is imminent) and Franz Wagner likely out until the All-Star Break with his injury.
Instead, they got the news that the nation thinks both Banchero and Wagner are close to starter status. Banchero is fourth in All-Star voting among forwards, trailing Karl-Anthony Towns by 500,000 votes. Wagner came in seventh.
The days of the Magic having two All-Stars are not too far away.
That is not what everyone was talking about Thursday. Everyone was talking about potentially adding a third All-Star.
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the situation between De’Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings had deteriorated and that there is anticipation that Fox will formally request a trade. Among the teams considered in the running are the Magic, whom Amick reports are “known to be contemplating a pursuit.”
That is about as non-committal a rumor as there can be.
The Magic have long been rumored to be connected to Fox on offshore betting sites. And it makes sense. Orlando needs a point guard and playmaker. Fox would elevate the offense with his pace and scoring ability.
Fox is having a career-best offensive season, averaging 26.8 points, 6.2 assists and even 1.6 steals per game. He is not the shooter the Magic likely need, but he would undoubtedly transform an offense that has ranked in the bottom 10 of the league for the last dozen years.
At this point, it is too early to consider cost. But the cost for the Kings’ franchise player will certainly be steep. That might be why the Magic will hit pause on the trade excitement.
While Orlando has had much of the same roster for the last three years, the team still does not know who their team is.
They have played only five games with Banchero and Wagner has been out for the last month. They have not played many games together this season. And both elevated their games. Banchero has not played with the post-injury version of Wagner who looked like a surefire All-Star.
Orlando will have to make a trade and look to elevate their talent level at some point. A consolidation trade is on the horizon. And the Magic still need something extra to get into the next contending tier.
Fox would fit in many ways. He is the kind of star the Magic will target. But Orlando still has to give Banchero and Wagner the ball and let them work. Fox is probably too heliocentric and too demanding of the ball for what the Magic are looking for.
When Orlando makes its star trade, it is about who the team chases as much as when. And the Magic should still be careful.
After all, their team is still improving and growing in the standings. Orlando has not hit a roadblock in its development yet.
Then again, a lot can happen between now and Feb. 6.
