There are only two weeks left until the NBA trade deadline.
Under most circumstances, you might sense a bit of panic from a team like the Orlando Magic. In many ways, this season has not gone how they expected as they sit at 23-22 and eighth in the Eastern Conference. It is the same spot they were in last year, showing there is room to recover.
Of course, context matters. Paolo Banchero has played only 11 games. Franz Wagner has missed 20 games with his return from a torn oblique imminent (very possibly Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers). This team has dealt with tons of injuries.
The Magic should believe fully they can recover and finish their season strong and still compete for homecourt advantage in the first round – they trail the Milwaukee Bucks by three games which is closer to where they were to the 4-seed at this point last year.
That has led to at least some semblance of calm. Nobody wants to use injuries as an excuse, but even the team openly acknowledged how much injuries have gutted them this year.
Health is the best thing the Magic will acquire the rest of the season.
But the calendar will not wait for the Magic to get healthy. Feb. 6 and the trade deadline are on the horizon. And the deadline is as much for planning the team’s future as it is the present.
Right now though, the Magic’s future and short-term interests are aligning. As Orlando prepares for the trade deadline, the team is in a critical spot in its development as they try to break through into the title-contending tier of the Eastern Conference.
Even through the injuries, the Magic have clear weaknesses to fill. Their shooting and offensive attack are the clearest things they must improve. Those are not only short-term needs the Magic must fill but long-term needs the team must fill.
Whatever move the Magic make is not just about helping this team improve, but about being a part of the team as they try to take this next step. Orlando is not looking for a quick fix, but a long-term solution and boost for their team.
That can make it tough to find a deal. Typically, the buyers in the trade market look for that quick fix to get them over the hump. Sellers typically look to set up their books for their future and make long-ranging decisions.
The Magic are doing both.
But because those two interests are aligning, it does appear the Magic have a chance to swing a deal. It just becomes what are the Magic willing to part with and who the Magic want to target.
The reality is that Orlando cannot wait too long. The team’s time to strike is now before the team gets ensconced in the apron territory after Paolo Banchero signs his max extension.
There are options too. The Magic have been rumored in the past to be interested in Cameron Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets. Guards like Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons and Malcolm Brogdon all seem to be within the Magic’s range and fit needs the team has.
The conditions for a deal are certainly forming. The Magic will need to act to improve the roster sooner than later.
