Magic stand pat ahead of NBA trade deadline
For the first time under president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman since his arrival in 2017, the Magic made no moves ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline.
While the New York Knicks traded to bolster their roster and the Toronto Raptors cleared out room to reshape theirs in the future, Orlando stood pat with its group that sat in eighth place in the conference after Thursday’s 127-111 rout of the San Antonio Spurs (10-42) at Kia Center.
The Magic (28-24) took a similar path to what they did this past summer, when they only added veteran Joe Ingles in free agency and drafted rookies Anthony Black and Jett Howard to develop long-term.
“I know that Jeff and his team do a tremendous job looking at things, dissecting things, teams calling … All of those things come into play,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said before Thursday’s tipoff. “We do a great job of communicating with one another.
“The one piece with this group is that there’s something to be said about the chemistry, the continuity and the health of this Orlando Magic basketball team.”
By not making a trade, Orlando’s future options weren’t compromised as it avoided taking on salary. The decision preserves the franchise’s projected cap space (roughly $45 million) for the offseason.
In addition, the Magic held onto their draft capital that includes eight first-round picks and 12 second-rounders through the next seven drafts (2024-30).
They’re in position to make the playoffs, or at least the Play-In Tournament, as currently constructed with the second half of their schedule more favorable than the first half.
Franz Wagner (34 points) led all scorers Thursday as they swept the season series with the Spurs, who were led by Devin Vassell (30 points) and Victor Wembanyama (15 points).
Jalen Suggs (17 points), Paolo Banchero (16 points), Moe Wagner (11 points) and Wendell Carter also scored in double figures for Orlando.
“Guys [know] what they’re expected to do, the communication that they have with one another … they can feel and see the direction that we’re heading because you stick with the group that has continued to grow together,” Mosley said.
Competition in the East is fierce.
The fourth-seeded Knicks added veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from Detroit, which is in the midst of a historically bad season. They received former Magic guard Evan Fournier, who had only appeared in three games in New York, and a host of bench players, two future second-round picks and cash considerations.
Meanwhile, the Raptors (18-33), who are rebuilding and had already traded away Pascal Siakam, acquired center Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji from the Jazz. They also sent Dennis Schroder to Brooklyn in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, who is expected to be bought out in a move to create cap space.
First-place Boston added frontcourt depth by receiving Xavier Tillman from the Grizzlies for Lamar Stevens and future second-round picks.
Orlando isn’t on the level of those East teams, but its ahead of schedule and likely will wait to make its next big move come free agency.
The Magic won their 27th game on Sunday in their 50th outing of the season. The team did not record its 27th victory last season until March 3 — in the 64th game.
“We have a special organization that’s looking to do great things moving forward,” Mosley said. “Being able to grow together says a lot. The continuity and the chemistry is something we continue to lean on.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
