The Orlando Magic's season trajectory has been unexpected. The team started out extremely cold as one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference but quickly picked things up despite multiple injuries to the rotation. Now, Orlando sits at the No. 6 seed in the conference with a 23-19 record. With their current standing, there are questions regarding the team's potential activity at next month's trade deadline. However, some predictions differ from a normal contending team.
Bleacher Report unveiled their updated trade deadline predictions for every NBA team. The Magic's prediction: The team will duck the luxury tax.
"The Orlando Magic aren't quite as close to their target line as some other teams around the league, but shedding $5.6 million in salary is far from impossible," the article wrote. "And there's a pretty obvious trade candidate who could help them erase that gap. Jonathan Isaac is making $15 million this season, while averaging 10.4 minutes and 3.1 points. Some rebuilding team might be willing to absorb a big chunk of that money in exchange for a second-round pick or two. Knowing that each of the following seasons on that contract are non-guaranteed should make a move more palatable too. When you consider how expensive Orlando will be next season (Jalen Suggs will be making over $32 million, while Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will all be over $39 million), delaying that first year in the tax (and by extension, repeater tax penalties) almost feels urgent."
While teams in Orlando's position usually act as buyers at the deadline, there is a likely scenario where the team needs to ship some expiring contracts. The Magic's most realistic trade candidate is Jonathan Isaac, the longest-tenured member of the roster. Throughout his career, Isaac has displayed his skillset as a defender but has trouble staying on the court due to injuries. Other contracts that could be dealt include Tyus Jones and Moritz Wagner, whose contracts are both set to expire this offseason. Jones been relatively lackluster as a backup guard and Wagner just returned from injury after missing a full calendar year. Either way, the Magic could be active at the deadline as sellers.
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