Oklahoma City Thunder: A trading partner for Chris Paul
Probably more of a Christmas miracle than a reasonable Christmas wish because of his contract, but it’s not impossible that a team could view themselves as a CP3 away from contention.
Paul has been great this year and the Thunder are looking more and more likely to sneak into the back of the playoffs. Still, I think both sides would be very open to a trade that gets his contract off the books for the Thunder and gives CP3 a chance to contend for a title late in his career.
The favorite in my mind was always the Timberwolves but given their recent struggles I can’t see them mortgaging their cap flexibility on an aging Chris Paul. At this point, a CP3 trade seems like the NBA Christmas wish list equivalent of a kid asking their parents for a pony. You know you aren’t going to get it, but you have to ask, right?
Orlando Magic: Magic
No that’s not a typo, I think the Magic might need actual magic or at least some good luck. The Magic have lived in the lottery for nearly every year since Dwight Howard‘s departure. They made the playoffs last year, but similar to the Pistons, that felt more like them hitting their ceiling than them building towards something better.
The Magic need something (magic) that can change their fortune. That could take a lot of different forms. Maybe with the new lottery rules, they get lucky and score a top-pick? Maybe Jonathan Isaac takes a Pascal Siakam type of leap next year? Maybe Aaron Gordon becomes a dominant 2-way player? I don’t know exactly what it’s going to take, but they need something to shake things up down in Orlando.