Why Magic Should Trade for Suns PG Chris Paul
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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic could be one of the more intriguing teams on the trade market this summer.
With a heap of assets and a desire to get back to the playoffs, Orlando could look to acquire a veteran or two on the trade market this summer in order to get over the hump.
Bleacher Report suggests that veteran could be Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul.
"Chris Paul could be an option if Phoenix tries offloading his salary," Bleacher Report writes. "The Magic may even have the assets to create a trade market."
Paul, 38, would be the oldest player on the roster by nearly a decade, but his track record proves that he helps make teams better. The New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Suns have all improved during Paul's tenure with the team. He could definitely do that for the Magic as well.
Paul's contract situation is a little dicey too, but not untradeable. He is only partially guaranteed for $15.8 million, but that number jumps to $30.8 million if he is on a roster by June 28. Next year, Paul is also set for $30 million, but none of it is guaranteed. This means that the Magic, or whichever team trades for him, would only be responsible for this year's salary. Orlando is one of the teams with some of the largest cap numbers in the league and can afford to take on Paul's salary.
The question remaining, who would have to be traded to acquire CP3?
Paul's value is probably as low as ever. The Suns are eager to trade him so they don't have to pay $30 million his way, and for a contending team like Phoenix, Paul's value has depreciated, especially with the arrival of Kevin Durant and the emergence of Devin Booker.
Gary Harris is an easy candidate to send to the Suns in this scenario, as he has a non-guaranteed contract worth around $13 million. His contract matches up with Paul's. Then, the Magic would likely have to surrender a point guard in the deal, likely Cole Anthony or Markelle Fultz. It would be difficult to trade either of them, but Anthony seems to be the most likely out of the two.
If the trade was Anthony and Harris for one year of Paul mentoring the young core of the roster and splitting point guard duties with Fultz, that could be a deal the Magic considers. Trading Anthony for a past-his-prime Paul is a gamble, but if his impact can match what he's been able to do at previous spots, the Magic could come out of this trade as a winner.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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