The Orlando Magic drew headlines this offseason when they traded for Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane. The Magic are not usually a team to make a big splash via trade but the Bane move drained Orlando of most of their future draft capital. With the newfound aggression by the front office, could the Magic target another star player?
Bleacher Report released an article, naming the most ambitious trade targets for every team in the NBA. The Magic’s target is Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
"Adding Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones this offseason helped address a 27th-ranked offense for the Orlando Magic, although this roster could still use more playmaking and outside shooting," the article wrote. "LaMelo Ball would bring both, as the 24-year-old carries career averages of 21.0 points, 7.4 assists and 3.1 made threes per game on 36.5 percent shooting from deep. It's fair to worry about Ball's durability, although the Magic did an admirable job of still finishing .500 last season even with players like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs missing large chunks of the season. Ball would electrify this offense and make the Magic one of the elite teams in the East."
The Hornets have simply been one of the worst Eastern Conference teams since Kemba Walker’s departure in 2019. Ball has been the face of the team since his draft selection in 2020. However, no matter how good he has been, the supporting cast around him has disappointed. He is a true scorer.
At some point, Charlotte could decide to blow it up and embrace a rebuild. It probably starts with moving on from Ball. Now, the question is… what would the Hornets ask for in a deal?
Given the crowded guard rotation in Orlando, the Magic could be willing to part with some of their young talent such as Anthony Black and Jett Howard. Charlotte could ask for Jalen Suggs. However, his playmaking and defensive strengths would pair perfectly opposite Ball, who is a legitimate scoring threat. However, Ball joining the rotation could completely flip the lineup pushing guys like Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to the four and five positions, respectively.
Even with the young talent the Magic have, they parted with much of their draft capital in the blockbuster Bane deal. Completing a trade for Ball would presumably be extremely difficult and team spacing could be mismanaged. Ball has been a consistently great scorer throughout his short career but Orlando may not be the perfect destination for the former No. 3 overall pick.