Magic Stay Quiet at Trade Deadline: What It Means and What's Next

For a second straight season, the Orlando Magic made no moves at the trade deadline, a source confirmed to Magic on SI. Here's a look at why, plus a look to where the Magic might turn their focus.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley talks with guard Anthony Black (0) during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

For the second consecutive season, the Orlando Magic were quiet at the NBA trade deadline, a source confirmed to Magic on SI Thursday.

The Magic, 25-27 and eighth in the East entering Thursday night's game with the Denver Nuggets, were one of four teams (Denver, Minnesota, Portland) to stand pat during one of the most active and potentially consequential periods of player movement in NBA history.

MORE: Magic's east rivals were busy at deadline

(Note: In September, before the 2024-25 season, Minnesota traded Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.)

Prior to last year, Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman was busy at the trade deadline:

• 2018: Acquire a second-round pick (Jarred Vanderbilt, traded to Denver) from Phoenix in exchange for Elfrid Payton.
• 2019: Acquire Markelle Fultz from Philadelphia in exchange for Jonathan Simmons, a 2020 protected first-round pick (Tyrese Maxey), and a 2019 second-round pick (Carsen Edwards).
• 2020: Acquire James Ennis III from Philadelphia for a 2020 second-round pick (Paul Reed).
• 2021: Acquire Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and two future first-rounders (Franz Wagner, Jett Howard) in exchange for Al-Farouq Aminu and Nikola Vucevic; acquire R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris and a 2025 first-round pick for Gary Clark and Aaron Gordon; acquire Jeff Teague and trade exception from Boston for Evan Fournier.
• 2022: Acquire Bol Bol, P.J. Dozier, a 2028 second-round pick and cash considerations to Boston for a protected 2023 second-round pick.
• 2023: Acquire Patrick Beverly and cash considerations from the Los Angeles Lakers and a 2024 second-round pick from Denver, traded Mo Bamba to Los Angeles Clippers as part of four-team deal.
• 2024: No trades.
• 2025: No trades.

Orlando has needs for perimeter scoring and playmaking. Even after a 130-point outburst Wednesday night at Sacramento, the Magic offense ranks last in points per game (104.1), three-point percentage (30.6), and effective field goal percentage (50.4).

They're also bottom-five in offensive rating (107.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58).

Why the Magic didn't make a move

Injury struggles short-circuit expectations

Top stars and key rotational pieces have missed 163 games because of injuries. The Magic's core trio — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs — have played together in only six of 52 games.

Banchero, an All-Star a season ago, missed 34 games with a torn right oblique. Wagner, his frontcourt running mate who was playing at an All-Star level in Banchero's absence, missed 20 games with the same injury. Suggs, the All-NBA defender, has missed 15 of the past 16 games.

The Magic added three-and-D veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, but injuries have canceled the roster continuity that helped lead Orlando to a 47-win season and the fifth playoff seed in 2024.

To reach 47 again, Orlando must win 22 of its final 30 games. But the Eastern Conference may require fewer victories this season to secure a 6-seed and a guaranteed postseason berth.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Magic are 1.5 games behind sixth-place Miami. They are 4.5 games back of 4th-seed Indiana and 3.5 games clear of Chicago in 10th.

Offseason flexibility

The Magic have assets — players and draft picks — that could be packaged to acquire a roster upgrade.

Four Magic players currently under contract have a club option this offseason: Moe Wagner ($11 million), Gary Harris ($7.5 million), Cory Joseph ($3.4 million) and Caleb Houstan ($2.1 million).

Jonathan Isaac's contract drops in value from $25 million this season to just $60 million spread across four years.

Wendell Carter Jr., who signed a three-year, $58.6 million extension in October, becomes trade-eligible this offseason.

In total, nine Magic players are set to make between $3.8 million and $21.6 million in 2025-26.

Draft capital

Orlando owns their own first-round pick in each of the next seven drafts, plus a 2025 top-5 protected first-rounder and a 2026 first-rounder that's the second most-favorable in a three-team swap with Washington and Phoenix.

They also own eight second-round picks in the next four years.

What could be next?

If Orlando are to make any roster additions this season, they can do so by way of the buyout market. Any addition would require clearing a roster spot, as the Magic are currently at the limit of 15 rostered players.

The Magic have an open two-way spot, but players can not be signed to two-way contracts after March 4. Two-way players are ineligible for the playoffs and can play only 50 NBA games in a season.

Thus, if the Magic wanted two-way guard Trevelin Queen to be eligible for the playoffs, a roster spot would need to be cleared for his contract to be converted. Queen has appeared in 22 games to this point.

Before next season, the Magic's payroll will grow dramatically.

Wagner and Suggs' new contract extensions — each five years and totaling $374.5 million in combined value — take effect in 2025-26. Paolo Banchero becomes eligible this offseason for a rookie max extension that would take effect in 2026-27.

Teams with high payrolls that invoke the luxury tax face limitations on roster constructions and possible makeovers through trades dependent on how far beyond they spend. The Magic last operated under the luxury tax in 2010-11.

For the rest of this season, the Magic will go forward with this team. The upcoming summer brings the next possibility for a roster shakeup.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• HOW MAGIC'S SPIRITED STARS SNAPPED LOSING SKID: Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner took the onus upon themselves to get out of their recent funk.
• HEAT'S RECENT DEALS ADD TO MAGIC'S CHALLENGE: While the Magic have stood by, other teams surrounding them have made upgrades in the tight East race. CLICK HERE
• BANCHERO'S FIRST PLAYER-EXCLUSIVE SHOE TO HIT SHELVES: Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero will have his first-ever publicly available shoe released by Jordan Brand on February 17. CLICK HERE

Want more Orlando Magic coverage on Sports Illustrated?

Follow 'Orlando Magic on SI' on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also, bookmark our homepage so you never miss a story.