NBA
NBA AM: Blowing Up The Magic?
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Blowing Up The Magic?
With the 2016 NBA trade deadline less than eight days away, you can safely slide the Orlando Magic into the serious buyer category of teams looking for a deal.
The Magic, who have been struggling to find wins as of late, have not only been actively exploring their trade options, league sources who have engaged in talks with Orlando paint them as a team willing to do something big.
The Magic have been linked to Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague. The word around the situation is the Magic have at least explored the idea of a Jeff Teague for Victor Oladipo swap. However, sources close to the Hawks said the team was still weighing options and conversations with Orlando are still taking place, as the Hawks are likely taking their decision on whether to deal all the way to the deadline.
The Magic were one of several teams to try and engage with the Los Angeles Clippers on a Blake Griffin deal. Sources close to the situation say the conversation didn’t get incredibly far, but there was a serious conversation believed to be centered around three Magic players heading to L.A. – with Tobias Harris being the big salary in the deal.
Clippers sources maintain that trading Griffin is not under serious consideration, although the Clippers are talking with teams about deals around the deadline and are continuing to field calls in an attempt to shore up the roster for what they believe is a serious run in the second half of the season.
The Magic have also been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks, although it’s unclear if the Magic were one of the teams trying to pry away Greg Monroe. Bucks sources said there were at least a half a dozen conversations taking place and they did not feel like they were close to anything at this point, believing they’d get serious offers once teams shift into deadline mode during the All-Star break.
Magic sources were pretty adamant yesterday that all the team is doing at this point is weighing their options and being aggressive in seeing what they could make happen, trying to defuse the notion the team was trying to sell off the roster. It was made very clear that the only way Orlando deals players it feels are core guys is if they get a proven All-Star type player in return, which is what it seems the Magic are looking for at the deadline.
Wizards Are in the Mix
The Washington Wizards are looking for some change and are trying to shake loose a difference maker at the deadline.
The Wizards have not gotten a lot of traction in talks, with sources saying they feel like the real conversations will take place next week as the deadline gets closer. However, they are open for a discussion and pulling the trigger on a deal is something they would do.
The Wizards are looking for help at the power forward spot and a stretch-four type player is very appealing.
Keep an eye on New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker and Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker – all players the Wizards have at least inquired about.
The Wizards are not likely going to blow up the current team, but they do have the ending contracts of Nene ($13 million), Jared Dudley ($4.37 million), Alan Anderson ($4 million), Ramon Sessions ($2.17 million) and Gary Neal ($2.139 million). The Wizards also have Kris Humphries, whose $4.63 million 2016-17 salary is non-guaranteed.
The Wizards are sitting at 23-27 on the season and two and half games out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, so there is some motivation to improve the roster for a push into the playoffs.
Did You Miss The Podcast?
In case you missed it, Lang Greene and I got into the trade rumors surrounding the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic and the mess in New York. We also offered up some predictions on NBA All-Star weekend. Take a listen:
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