As the 3 p.m. ET NBA Trade Deadline approaches on Thursday, the lone move the Orlando Magic have made is the trade of guard Tyus Jones and two second round picks to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night for clash considerations.

The move sheds Jones’ $7 million salary and gets Orlando under the luxury tax, putting a swift end to a disappointing experiment just months after the organization signed Jones in the offseason. 

The Magic brought in Jones to provide the team with an experienced and productive floor general. Instead, the 29-year-old averaged career lows in points per game (3.0), assists (2.4), field goal percentage (34.2%) and 3-point percentage (29.4%) across 48 games (eight starts). 

Despite the lack of production Jones brought on the floor, his presence will still be missed within the building. 

“Yeah, days like today suck,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the Magic’s shootaround ahead of hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. “I don't think there's any other way to put it. You're talking about the young man that Tyus is, what he's done for us and this part of this business. 

But more than the court, what he was for our locker room and our young guys and his voice and helping young guys learn how to mature and being pros in this business. Yeah, these days are very tough, and the energy in the building is exactly what it should be. Not happy about losing a guy who this young man was and is.” 

Jones came to Orlando with 10 years of NBA experience that included much stronger campaigns in the previous three seasons leading up to the 2025-26 slate. In the wake of the move, Mosley emphasized remaining candid with the group. 

“We talk about it as it is truth,” Mosley said. “We're adults in this business, and we've got to talk about the business side of things, not just basketball, but the human being side of it as well. So, you address it as such and speak the truth that things are what they are in this situation.  

And then you've got to move forward to understand that you've got to go play a very tough and physical and aggressive Brooklyn team tonight.” 

Comin off a pair of difficult losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Magic have a chance to get back on track against the Nets in a contest that kicks off a four-game home stand ahead of the All-Star break.  

“Going into the break is big, but it is one game at a time. We got to make sure we're sticking to the game plan, and our energy and effort have to be right tonight against a very aggressive, physical Brooklyn team.” 

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