Orlando Magic: Would trading for DeMar DeRozan make sense?

Should the Orlando Magic openly seek a trade for DeMar DeRozan, who could be on the move sooner rather than later?

Entering the 2019-20 NBA season, there were roughly two frames of thought when it came to the Orlando Magic.

The first was that this team was making a mistake by signing Nikola Vucevic to a long-term deal and that this team would, unequivocally, take a step back in the Eastern Conference. The second was that this team would essentially be what they were last season and be a non-threat playoff team once again in the East.

Through roughly the first month of the season, the Magic have pretty much been something in the middle of those two thoughts. The Magic are 6-7, sitting in the 7th slot of the Eastern Conference. Had it not been for their most recent three-game winning streak, their start to the season would’ve looked even shakier.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

Nevertheless, even as they move forward with the feel-good story of Markelle Fultz‘s most recent resurgence, the Magic are in a place where they have to make a move one way or another. Objectively, the Magic, as currently constructed, aren’t in any position to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference. At the same rate, nor are they bad enough to land in the top 5 or 7 of the NBA Draft Lottery – save for some lottery magic (no pun intended) or a catastrophic injury.

While in the past, the easy answer to this question, for the Magic, had always been to simply sell their assets and try to hit a home run in the draft again, I’m not sure that’s the best course of action for this franchise at the moment.

The Magic have *good* young talent that could eventually blossom into something special, an all-star level veteran and a true x-factor in Fultz. What this team greatly is missing is a veteran player that could make things go on the offensive end.

Interestingly, there could be one set to hit the trade market. DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan is in an interesting spot, after failing to agree to a contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs during the summer. DeRozan is set to become a free agent after the season, and will likely garner a contract during the summer that the Spurs simply don’t want to pay at this stage of his career.

Kevin O’Conner of The Ringer echoed those same sentiments and took it a step further. KOC states that it wouldn’t be surprising if the Spurs moved DeRozan and that the Magic could reportedly be interested.

"[via The Ringer]DeRozan can become a free agent in 2020 by declining his $27.7 million player option… The Spurs could always deal him sooner rather than let him walk for nothing. Multiple league sources say the Magic are scouring the trade market for scoring help and have already expressed interest in trading for DeRozan.It would surprise none of the front-office executives I’ve spoken with if the Spurs did move DeRozan."

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a step back and ask: Would the Spurs really move DeRozan?

The evidence that we have thus far in the season points to yes. First of all, the Spurs have struggled mightily out of the starting gate this season, perhaps even more than many envisioned they would.

San Antonio, through the first month of the season, is 5-9 and currently occupying the 13th spot in the Western Conference standings. They don’t appear to have that same look as past Gregg Popovich teams, and this could be the year that the front office elects to get in front of their future a bit.

If the Spurs don’t plan on re-signing during the summer, it would make absolutely no sense for them to keep him on the roster through this year’s trade deadline. And considering that he’s essentially an expiring contract, the price tag for DeRozan’s services is not going to be sky-high.

The Magic and DeRozan seem like an ideal match too. Orlando has the 27th ranked offense in the NBA and could use another efficient wing scorer. While DeRozan doesn’t shoot 3’s, he’s averaging 21 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the floor.

Even if it doesn’t work out, the Magic could cut bait in the offseason via a sign-and-trade or letting him walk in free agency. Depending on the asking price, trading for DeRozan could end up being a low-risk, high-reward type of deal for this season.

Next. NBA: 3 most impressive rookies thus far. dark

The Orlando Magic need some sort of shift to move the needle this season. Trading for DeMar DeRozan makes sense and could be more of a realistic possibility than many believe.

Home/Orlando Magic