NBA season preview: 5 players most likely to be traded this season

4. Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic

Terrence Ross is the last veteran standing in Orlando.

The Magic held a fire sale at last year’s trade deadline, sending Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls, Evan Fournier to the Boston Celtics and Aaron Gordon to the Denver Nuggets. That left Ross on a rebuilding team filled with 20-somethings who have a near-zero chance of sniffing a playoff berth this year.

Ross is under contract for $12.5 million this season and $11.5 million in 2022-23, so the Magic aren’t under immediate pressure to trade him. But as they rebuild around the young backcourt of Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, they should explore the market to see what they can get for the 30-year-old sharpshooter.

In late July, SNY’s Ian Begley reported “several teams” had “been in touch” with the Magic regarding Ross trades, although nothing materialized at the time. He’s on such a reasonable contract that it won’t be difficult for most contenders to cobble together the necessary salary-matching pieces of him, though.

If (when) the Magic get off to a slow start, they should begin fielding offers on their last remaining veteran trade chip. There’s no reason to keep Ross in rebuilding purgatory past this year’s trade deadline.