Audi wrote:FeatheryTouch wrote:LakersLegacy wrote:Seems like a steep price as the Suns should be contenders and the Magic in the lotto
Does the pick swap roll over to the next available year 2031?
3 seconds for something likely not to convey?
Agreed. I really don't understand the deal from Orlando's point of view, you are giving away 3(!) picks to gamble on a small chance at improving your draft position a few slots in a couple of years when the Suns should still have a competitive team and there's no guarantee that Orlando will be good.
There's a very good possibility that the Magic gifted those 3 picks to the Suns for absolutely nothing in return.
To help make sense:
1. The picks are from the bottom of the second rounder barrel. Magic have 8 1sts and 12 2nds over the next 7 years. With a FO that historically finds little value in 2nds (usually trading for ‘cash considerations’), it’s safe to say the picks won’t be missed.
2. The Magic can always trade the pick. A first round pick with the option of a swap is inherently more valuable than a first without. Orlando consolidated 3 of their worst future 2nds to increase the value of their 2026 1st, which could be packaged for the exact type of player they find that they need by that point, after another season of evaluating their young talent and consolidating their core around Wagner & Banchero.
3. Doubtful that ORL is still a lottery team in 2026. They would’ve made it solidly in the play-in this last season if not for a ~20 game season start plagued with injuries leading to guardless rosters.
1.) PHX is going all-in on their interpertation of how the new CBA is gonna play out in regards to 2nd rd picks
i.e, the ability to go over the cap to sign your own 2nd rounders
if they are correct in their gamble, they will have loads of a very valuable resource and by then other teams will catch up and will be intrerested in giving back actual value for 2nd rounders
2.) why do u assume that Orlando will be competitive? their only competitive teams since the expansion, revolved around a few select superstars. the current regime's draft picks have been pretty bad all in all.
Isaac was the only solid pick who had actual star potential (tho not superstar potential) and it's unlucky his career has been rerailed by injuries
the Jury's still out on Banchero, but I don't see him as anything special or a true future franchise player even in 2026, same goes for Franz who posters on this board keep touting since their rookie season over Mobley, Barnes etc
he's a nice complimentary player and at best will be a decent number #2 with questionable defense
in the last 10-11 years since trading Dwight (their last true superstar) the Magic have made the playoffs twice and have 0 playoff series wins. they were touted as the big winners of that blockbuster trade for getting Afflalo, Harrington, Vucevic, Harkless and 3 FRPS. what came of these 3 Frps? what came of all these mediocore players? just a play-in team basically (before there was a play-in obviously) and the same will probably come of this group they have now
in short, I think it's a pretty tall order to assume they'll be competitive in 2026, maybe they will but more likely that they won't
Celtics, Indy, Cavs, Knicks, Bucks, Hawks etc. should all still be good to elite even in 2-3 years time and u just know teams like Miami would find ways to stay competitive even after their aging star declines. it's a crapshoot for all the rebuilding teams like Charlotte, Wiz, Pistons, Raps, Bulls etc. but we can assume a couple of these will bink of their drafts and player development and roster moves and be competitive
so in reality, unless Banchero or the Wagner's turn into actual stars - there is no immediate path for the Magic to be more than a play-in team even in a couple years time and judging by their FO's track record - i'd def bet against it personally