Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Orlando Magic:

When all is said and done this season, it would be very surprising to see the Orlando Magic in the playoffs, which is why they should look to leverage some of their talent for future assets. Ricky Rubio is more of guy who will contribute now, but Jarred Vanderbilt and the future first-round pick they receive in this trade could definitely be beneficial to them down the road. 

Vanderbilt is only 21-years old and is still growing as a basketball player, which makes him a perfect fit in Orlando. This organization needs young talents with potential, especially since they are kind of in a “standstill” as an organization. 

Sure, they have All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and sharpshooter Evan Fournier, but outside of these two guys, the Magic really have a lack of talent compared to other teams in the Eastern Conference. Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac being out definitely does not help the cause, but this team could use some key young talents in the frontcourt, which is why Vanderbilt could hold a lot of value in this trade. 

RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: This trade would send D’Angelo Russell to the Orlando Magic

While it is a protected first-round pick, the 2023 pick the Magic receive from the T-Wolves in this trade could also be very important for them building a sustainable core of young talent. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony are the only two younger players on the magic’s roster right now with a ton of potential, which is why they need to do everything they can to build their team through the draft moving forward. 

Even if they were to make the playoffs at full strength, the Magic would still be a team that gets blasted in the first-round by the Nets, Bucks or 76ers, which is why they need to face the truth now and go through a small rebuild. Aaron Gordon has reached the peak of his career and is not going to be any better than he already is, which is why the Magic should trade him while he still has value to his name.