The Orlando Magic need to find a way to avoid the second apron, and cutting ties with two players could help achieve that.
As the clock struck 12 a.m. on Sunday and ushered in February, the NBA world moved within days of the trade deadline for the 2025-26 season.
A couple of deals have already been struck, but most of the organizations have not finalized anything. Among the teams yet to make a move are the Orlando Magic.
At 25-22, the Magic have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, which has given rise to roster rumors and concerns. Recently, ESPN NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps wrote about Orlando’s situation as it finds itself in a financial bind.
“Sources across the league strongly believe that Orlando, which is about $5 million into the luxury tax, will make a move to get under,” they wrote. “Moving on from guard Tyus Jones' expiring $7 million deal would solve that, but not the massive money crunch coming next season, when Banchero's extension kicks in. (The Magic are already projected to be well into the luxury tax in 2026-27 with just 10 players on the roster.)
And if Orlando doesn't move on from Jonathan Isaac's non-guaranteed deal, it will be a second apron team.”
Given his price tag, Jones has grossly underachieved as the reserve floor general the Magic hoped to get when they signed him in the offseason. Through 46 games (eight starts), Jones is averaging just 3.1 points and 2.5 assists on 34.4 percent shooting from the field and 29.7 percent from the perimeter.
The numbers Jones is producing are the worst of his 11-year career, and the Magic would probably benefit by cutting ties sooner than later. However, as Windhorst and Bontemps mentioned, the other player worth identifying in this situation is Isaac.
Isaac is earning $15 million this season. Next season, he will see a salary of $14.5 million as part of the four-year, $59 million contract he signed. He is the longest tenured member of the Magic and is well received by his teammates, but is that worth the price tag when, like Jones, he is producing the worst season of his career?
Another obstacle on the horizon concerns the ascension of Anthony Black, whose worth is growing exponentially as he continues to demonstrate a massive leap in his third year.
“Rival teams are watching to see if Orlando -- either now or in the summer -- looks to shed some long-term money,” Windhorst and Bontemps added. “Particularly because the Magic will also be headed into extension talks with guard Anthony Black.”
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