3 Realistic Orlando Magic Trade Targets For The Lakers Ahead Of Tonight's Game
Tonight, your Los Angeles Lakers -- fully worn out from a 132-127 overtime road adventure against the Sacramento Kings -- will square off against the visiting Orlando Magic.
Some of us here at All Lakers like to consider every matchup something of a scouting opportunity when it comes to the opposing team. The Magic roster is loaded with intriguing young talent (including ex-Lakers center Moritz Wagner, now a solid floor-spacing reserve big), and beyond forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, I think everyone else could be had for the right price.
Let's look at three fits who'd be particularly helpful to LA.
Markelle Fultz
After a rough start to his pro career, the 6'3" combo guard and former No. 1 draft pick has emerged as one of the more intriguing defensive guards in the league. Fultz is currently in the midst of a pretty reasonably three-year, $50 million deal, and would help shore up LA's porous starting backcourt.
Cole Anthony
Fultz's chief backup, son of longtime New York Knicks pest Greg Anthony, just inked a three-year, $39 million contract extension with the Magic, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. He's had an awesome start to his 2023-24 season, but the real question is whether it would be particularly sustainable. Ultimately, LA's goal should be finding a cost-effective D'Angelo Russell upgrade. The team already has Gabe Vincent on its roster, so the question truly becomes... is Anthony capable of being better than D-Lo? And what would it cost for Orlando to give him up?
Gary Harris
The 29-year-old vet used to be a pretty reliable 3-and-D swingman while with the Denver Nuggets, but injuries have sapped him of some of his explosiveness. He still has some value to a team trying to win, but really his $13 million expiring contract is the most appetizing thing about him as a trade prospect. For an LA team that may eventually want to get off Rui Hachimura's already rough-looking contract, he could be a good fit. Harris has missed an average of 22.5 regular season contests across his past two years with the Magic. In 2022-23, as the club's starting shooting guard (when available), Harris averaged 8.3 points on .450/.431/.900 shooting splits, two rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals. This season, he's been demoted to a reserve role, behind Jalen Suggs, the fifth pick in the 2021 draft out of Gonzaga.
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