Philip Rossman-Reich here, the host of the daily Locked On Magic podcast, with your daily Locked On Magic newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Magic and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Are Orlando Magic ready to make their star trade?
Mar 23, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) looks to pass against Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first quarter at KIA Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
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.
Jan 2, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) warms-up before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center. | Jim Rassol/Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
After weeks of downplay by his agent and denials by Heat president Pat Riley, Jimmy Butler has finally said the quiet part out loud to a room of postgame media about his future in Miami.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon — but I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that,” Butler said.
In a quick follow up, Butler was asked whether he thought he could get his joy back with the Heat.
“Probably not,” he said without any hesitation.
As a Butler in Miami believer, my surprise stems from the state of the team. That the front office has let the Heat’s roster slowly erode to the strange place of competitive limbo they find themselves in. Losing key role players, like Max Strus and Caleb Martin, plus offensive gap fillers like Gabe Vincent, has left the Heat without much depth. The undeniable talent of Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro — who is having one of his best seasons, despite it all — and sophomore Jamie Jaquez Jr. is there, and for years Duncan Robinson has worked to be whatever the team needs him to be, but the scrappy longevity and the plucky punches this team was capable of pulling two and three seasons ago are gone.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Honor Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards calls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the “MVP of the NBA.”(ESPN)
Injury Pistons Jaden Ivey undergoes surgery to repair his broken fibula, and his earliest timeline for return is four weeks. (SportsNet)
Watch Charles Barkley calls out JJ Redick over NBA ratings comments, “dead man walking.” (Awful Announcing)
Fans Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have made a splash by cracking the top 10 in the first NBA All-Star 2025 fan vote returns. This is an exciting moment for Orlando Magic fans as their support is visibly impacting the results. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Orlando Magic players react to Jaden Ivey’s leg injury, showing solidarity and concern for the Detroit Pistons guard. The team emphasizes the importance of sportsmanship and player well-being in the NBA community. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis 2024 was a banner year for the Orlando Magic, but 2025 demands a step to the next level. The team must focus on building on their successes and addressing key areas for improvement. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Rumor De’Aaron Fox trade rumors link the Orlando Magic to the Kings star, amid buzz involving the Lakers, Heat, and Spurs. This potential move could shake up the roster significantly. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Butler’s Trade Request Shakes Up Miami Heat & Fantasy Basketball
Jan 2, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) looks on from the bench during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol/Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
I’ve been hearing whispers about potential issues between Butler and the Heat organization for months now. Sources close to the situation indicated that the Heat were hesitant to offer Butler a contract extension, which reportedly left him feeling undervalued and frustrated.
Butler’s recent press conference comments, where he stated he may never regain his joy for playing basketball while with the Heat, seem to confirm these tensions. His on-court performance has also noticeably dipped, with Butler appearing disengaged and putting up subpar numbers.
From a fantasy perspective, Butler’s potential departure raises questions about who might step up in his absence. However, looking at games where Butler has been out this season, no clear beneficiary has emerged. Players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson have failed to consistently produce starter-level fantasy numbers in Butler’s absence.
Click the button below to get the inside scoop on a rookie center’s breakout game.
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