As the Magic
Orlando could make roster changes before NBA trade deadline expires this afternoon
prepare to face the Hawks tonight, anything could happen — including roster changes before the deadline kicks in.
Emotions can change in an instant in the NBA.
Consider, for instance, the 180-degree turn the Orlando Magic experienced Tuesday night at Amway Center. The Magic faltered at the start of their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and players on the Magic’s bench looked sedate as they fell behind by 21 points.
In the second half, however, the Magic dominated the Cavaliers. Throughout the fourth quarter, players on the bench stood as they celebrated and cheered highlightreel-quality plays. Almost all the players watching from the sidelines broke into wide smiles when Evan Fournier accidentally fell onto his back, caught a pass and threw the ball to a teammate without incurring a traveling violation. Seconds later D.J. Augustin scored on a driving layup, sending the team into a frenzy.
Over the next few hours, a few Magic players might experience an even greater emotional swing than their swing Tuesday night. The Magic could alter their roster before this season’s trade deadline expires at 3 p.m. today.
In a recent interview, general manager John Hammond would not characterize the Magic as sellers on the trade market. But the Magic are 17-36, and common sense indicates that president of
basketball operations Jeff Weltman and Hammond will consider moves that can resuscitate the rebuild they inherited in May. Indeed, Hammond said if the team makes a move, it likely would be “to improve ourselves for the future.” In other words, the team likely would seek young players or draft picks or a combination of both.
Almost every major Magic player has been mentioned in trade rumors recently, including Bismack Biyombo, Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, Elfrid Payton, Jonathon Simmons and Nikola Vucevic.
“I’m not that type of guy who’s going to think about stuff that I can’t control,” said Fournier, who was traded to the Magic during the 2014 offseason and has been the subject of trade rumors intermittently in the years since.
“I’m going to have a regular day [Wednesday], and if something happens, then it happens. But I’m not going to worry about things that I don’t have control over. My parents are in town. We’re going to have a great day. I’m going to come in, do my treatment and get a massage. And if during my massage I get traded, then I’m out. It is what it is.”
Hezonja and Payton will be players to watch as the deadline approaches.
In October, the Magic declined to exercise their team option on Hezonja for the 2018-19 season. Because of the decision, Hezonja will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Hezonja has played well on the offensive end of the floor lately, averaging 15.2 points per game and making 57 percent of his 3-point tries over his last five games. Perhaps he has boosted his trade value.
Payton will become a restricted free agent in July, meaning the Magic (or a team that trades for him) would have the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another franchise.
If Weltman and Hammond have decided they have no intention of bringing Payton back for the 2018-19 season — something neither of them has indicated — then the Magic could attempt to trade him before the deadline.
The Magic’s worst contract belongs to Biyombo, who is scheduled to earn $17 million per season through 2019-20, assuming he picks up his player option for the 2019-20 season. Because Biyombo has limited skills and because he’s a second-string center when Vucevic is healthy, the Magic almost certainly would love to trade Biyombo even though they value his character and his hard work. But it’s not realistic to expect the Magic to trade Biyombo without receiving a similarly bad contract in return.
Simmons, who has stepped up his play recently and could interest playoff-bound teams seeking depth on the wings, indicated he doesn’t focus on the deadline.
“I think we just kind of look at that and laugh, and we know that it’s a business and it’s our job,” Simmons said. “So we’re not worried about it. We’re just kind of going day by day.”
With rumors flying around, Magic coach Frank Vogel said he hasn’t perceived any concern among his players.
“I’m sure it’s there,” Vogel said. “It’s natural. Every player in the league is feeling that. But I haven’t sensed it at all.”
Veteran point guard Shelvin Mack has been traded once before. Two years ago, on the day of the 2015-16 trade deadline, he moved from the Atlanta Hawks to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal.
Mack said the deadline doesn’t concern most players.
“Like anything else,” Mack said, “just control what you can control. Don’t believe everything you see and just keep moving. It’s factual that most trades happen on draft night more than the trade deadline.”