Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 13, Magic and Wizards
In the lead up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, we’re taking all 30 teams and finding mutually beneficial partners. Every day will offer up a new deal with two new consorts. It’s kinda like the 12 days of Christmas, but instead of hens-a-laying and pear trees and other useless nonsense from your true love, you’re getting fake trades from me for a much higher holy day: the NBA trade deadline. Strap in tight, it’s trading season!
Remember when the Magic were in first place in the East? I sure don’t. Orlando has been one of the most confusingly-run franchises since the first Obama term. They have a handful of interesting players but lack a cohesive, coherent core.
Orlando’s taking calls on Aaron Gordon but he’s a restricted free agent this summer and they can match any offer sheet. I don’t see how the Magic can move their best and most exciting player unless they’re presented with a package they can’t refuse.
Washington is currently the Eastern Conference’s 4-seed. They’re also one of the shallowest teams in the league despite having the fifth-highest payroll. Depth and improvements to their frontcourt are the Wizards two biggest needs.
Also, it’s a total coincidence today’s fake trade proposal involves the NBA’s two sorcery-themed franchises.
Why the Magic do it:
Orlando gets to slash more than $8 million in salary while adding an appealing piece in Kelly Oubre as well as a first-round pick. As of Feb. 4, they have the inside track at the top choice in what’s supposed to be a loaded draft class. Collecting assets while veering further into the loss column without eschewing players who forecast into their future plans are the exact type of moves the Magic should be making.
Why the Wizards do it:
Wizards actually haven’t lost a game since John Wall went down with his knee injury, including wins over the Raptors and Thunder. But with Wall slated to be out 6-to-8 weeks, having a reliable veteran point guard like D.J. Augustin could pay huge dividends for a team trying to maintain first-round home court advantage. Terrence Ross and Arron Afflalo are fine I suppose.
The major coup for Washington would be Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic and Marcin Gortat are on nearly-identical deals, but upgrading to the former from the latter would be significant. Vucevic is more than six years younger than the Polish Hammer and turned himself into a decent 3-point shooter, an aspect Gortat doesn’t have in his game at all.
Vucevic gets dogged for his defense but he’s on pace for the most blocks of his career. Their Defensive Box Plus-Minus scores are similar (1.7 for Vucevic, 1.9 for Gortat), but Vucevic’s offense pulls his overall BPM to 3.5, while Gortat’s gets dragged down to 0.4. Giving the Wizards another scoring option who can space the floor would be huge in their attempt to punch above their class.
Next: Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 12, Knicks and Suns
Bismack Biyombo and Ian Mahinmi essentially cancel each other out with their elephantine contracts. Biyombo brings vaguely more on-court value, but they’re both exorbitantly overpaid backup centers. They’re included for the hilarity of getting exchanged for each other and this meme subsequently flooding NBA Twitter: