NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 trades to put the Magic back in the Orlando Magic

1. Phoenix Suns

Phoenix gets: Elfrid Payton

Orlando gets: Alex Len

This move really allows Orlando to lean into their tank for this season. It removes the final player with question marks about their future with the team from their core and would leave them with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac (plus the rest of their haul from these trades) to build around.

Alex Len could audition for a spot in a three-man big rotation with Gordon and Isaac. He’d be a restricted free agent at the end of this season if he wasn’t able to fit in and make it work, so no risk for Orlando there. The trade would be good for Len, personally, as well. It would free him from Phoenix, a place where he obviously does not fit in terms of their franchise direction.

Maybe Orlando could even squeeze another second-round pick from Phoenix.

Payton would provide the Suns with the point guard they certainly need. He’s young, on the last year of his rookie deal, and would mesh well with the athletic talent Phoenix has been building. We’re pretty sure Orlando could actually get that second pick along with Alex Len if they asked nicely.

Next: Where do the Orlando Magic go from here?

That would really blow things up and kickstart the Magic on their course to rebuilding. Luckily for them they now have three picks in the first round of this year’s loaded draft, and have gutted their roster to the point where their own pick will certainly be in the top five.

Not a bad place to start.

Can somebody tell Sam Hinkie about the job we’ve done here.?We think he might be proud.