2019-20 Finish: 34-48, 10^th in Eastern Conference

Season Highlight:

Young progress – as far as both Trae Young himself and the other young guys on the roster all making improvements. Flipping KD for Trae was obviously a key part of their season, but seeing disappointing guys like Markelle Fultz and John Jackson start to put the pieces together a bit as well as less heralded young players like PJ Washington and Donte DiVincenzo exceeding expectations for their season, it gives the Magic fans something to be excited about after an otherwise non-noteworthy season spent waiting for KD to get healthy.

Season Lowlight:

Mediocrity – they were very middle of the road this season. They weren't awful, but they didn't strike fear in anybody either. They kind of finished the way they started, playing sub-.500 basketball but getting some wins here and there.

Best Trade:

Magic send:  Kevin Durant, Kelly Oubre and Mfiondu Kabengele, First rounder (Dal 17) for 2020 - (Aleksej Pokusevski)
Magic get: Alex Len, Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis, Trae Young

Calling this the “best trade isn't so much a value-oriented decision, but because by this point it was obvious that the current iteration of the Magic didn't have big dreams – I think I'd even say they “lost this deal, but it still just makes a lot of sense for them. Even post-injury, KD is probably a better player than Trae (we'll see) and Oubre/Poku definitely beats out Wiggins/Len/Portis. However – getting a cornerstone to come into is his prime with some other young players extends their horizon significantly.

Worst Trade:

Magic send: First rounder (Orl 11) for 2020 - (Tyrese Haliburton), Second rounder (Chi 59) for 2020 - (Paul Eboua), Second rounder (Det 49) for 2020 - (Elijah Hughes) 

Magic get: 2022 First rounder (Pho 28) for 2020 - (Vernon Carey Jr), First rounder (Det 18) for 2020 - (Josh Green)  

Green and Carey could both end up being solid role players and this be good in hindsight, however Tyrese Haliburton (to me) was pretty squarely in the same group as guys that went from 4-10, with many having him at the top of their boards after the first 3 were off the board. Getting two later picks for kind of guy just didn't seem like good value to me. If Haliburton was off the board - 18 and 28 for 11, 49, and 59 is fair… In hindsight I just wish they had Tyrese instead.

Other Notable Trades (lots, even after filtering out a lot of small TPE/2^nd rounder deals – gc6 was BUSY):

Magic send: Dewayne Dedmon, David Nwaba, First rounder (Por 30) for 2020 - (Daniel Oturu)
Magic get: Evan Fournier, Miye Oni

I like this one pretty well. It may have been worth Pick 30 just to get off of Dedmon's deal – getting a contributing guy in his place in Evan Fournier seems worthwhile.

Magic send: Evan Fournier, Marquese Chriss, Second rounder (Chi 59) for 2020 - (Paul Eboua)
Magic get: Thaddeus Young and OG Anunoby

I think OG is the real value here. Thad and Fournier can both play a bit too – but a young guy with his level of defensive capabilities is rare.

Magic send: Aaron Gordon and Matt Thomas
Magic get: Marvin Williams and PJ Washington

Aaron Gordon is the best player – at least in 2k. PJ Washington had a better-than-expected rookie season and matches up well with where the team is going though, so I think it makes sense.

Magic send: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Miye Oni, Second rounder (Orl 39) for 2020 - (Malachi Flynn), Second rounder (Tor ) for 2021
Magic get: Jared Dudley and Mason Plumlee

Mason Plumlee seems like the best player in the deal, but after being able to snag Malachi Flynn at 39 – he may actually have the most value at this point.

Magic send: Mason Plumlee
Magic get: John Henson, Bruno Caboclo, Second rounder (Mem ) for 2021

So I guess the previous deal wasn't about getting Plumlee in order to contribute? Maybe just stockpiling 2nds? Bruno did have a couple of good games after 5 years in the league… but I think that's where it ends.

Magic send: OG Anunoby, Second rounder (Chi ) for 2021
Magic get: Mfiondu Kabengele, First rounder (Dal 17) for 2020 - (Aleksej Pokusevski), First rounder (Pho ) for 2021

I liked Orlando getting OG, don't really like trading him away nearly as much… The do get Poku and a 1^st in next year's supposedly loaded draft – so it could work out well in the long-term. OG seemed like he could pair well with all-offense Trae Young and some of the other Orlando youngsters as they try to turn into a playoff team in the next year or two. I suppose they ended up using that Poku pick to make the Trae deal possible to begin with…

Magic send: Andre Iguodala, Kevon Looney, First rounder (Pho ) for 2021, Second rounder (Mem ) for 2021, Second rounder (Por ) for 2022, Second rounder (Chi ) for 2023
Magic get: Steven Adams

Jesse fairly accurately broke down this deal as “I see a lot of writing in the spurs "added" column but its all garbage . Adams is pretty highly paid for a center, but he does most of what you want from a center, is still fairly young and is generally healthy – and loveable by all. Giving up a 1^st hurts a bit, but I guess if you think Adams is your man in the middle for several more years, it's worth paying.

Free Agency:

It's the Jackson 2 this year in Free Agency. Josh Jackson is an unrestricted free agent – the Magic would probably like to bring him back after he showed a few glimpses last season… if he can capitalize on even a small amount of his potential, he should be in the league for a bit. However, it looks like he will look for whatever team gives him the best shot to have a role, with little regard for having to relocate. Frank Jackson is an RFA, so they can have him back if they want him – he hasn't really found too much of a role, but some people still have a bit of hope for him.

Star:

Trae Young

He only played the final 4 weeks of the season with the Magic, but he put up 30ppg for them, even if his efficiency could have been a bit better. He is very much the cornerstone and future of this franchise – so he's just getting started!

Goat:

Kevin Durant

To be fair, he was injured ahead of the start of the season – so this was a bit known… but there isn't anybody else that really “hurt this team, so having your superstar out for the entire season is about as negative as you can go.

Draft Grades (courtesy of Nenjabin:

Pick 18: Josh Green

Pick 23: RJ Hampton

Pick 28: Vernon Carey Jr

Grade: A

Really like the draft of the Magic. Josh Green looks like a ready made guy who could turn out to be a Josh Richardson, but with a much bigger, chunkier body. Think of the damage! Hampton, I don't know what the trade being completed was, but at these this incarnation was Pick 23 for a 2024 1st. By 2024, we'll know where Hampton is headed and he looks like a solid kid. He needs a lot of development though. Kid looked like he hated being drafted… I put up with New Zealand for this shit?

Vernon Carey has some really nice inside outside game and 2way potential, but fell a bit due to unknown fit and some questions about his ability to fit into the modern game. He's worth a risk at 28 though.

The Future:

I really like where the Magic sit with Trae surrounded by a bunch of teens/early 20s players. Wiggins and Adams don't exactly fit the timeline, but they are only 25 and 27 respectively, so there is no reason to think they won't be productive when the team really hits their stride in the next couple of years. If they let the Jacksons walk, they'll have about 16 mil in cap space in order to make a run at another guy to come in and help now. They could definitely make the playoffs this year if they do a good job of pulling the team together through free agency and making some smart coaching moves.

C: Steven Adams / Vernon Carey Jr.
PF: PJ Washington
SF: Andrew Wiggin / Josh Green / Josh Jackson
SG:  Donte DiVincenzo / RJ Hampton / Frank Jackson
PG: Trae Young / Markelle Fultz / Jalen Lecque