How This Trade Impacts Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are going nowhere fast this season. They are in the early stages of a rebuild but would be looking to speed that process up in this trade.
Acquiring Ben Simmons would make him the new centerpiece and face of the franchise. It would be a peculiar move, given how much capital they have spent on the backcourt.
Some of it is being used to acquire him in Cole Anthony, but the team also has Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and R.J. Hampton as backcourt options.
Could this deal be made with the idea in mind of using Simmons more in the frontcourt? He could replace Jonathan Isaac as the long-term power forward, providing the same level of defensive versatility but with less diversity of an offensive game.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: ‘No Traction’ For Ben Simmons Returning To Sixers, Trade
Simmons’ playmaking would enable the other guards on the team to focus on what they do best, which is score the basketball.
Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba are both good fits next to Simmons as centers because of their improving 3-point shooting. You need as much spacing as you can get around Simmons and the Magic have some developing.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: ‘No Traction’ For Ben Simmons Returning To Sixers, Trade
Saving their draft capital is a win for Orlando as well. They are still rebuilding and would need some more pieces to help push that rebuild forward, which could come in the form of another top-five pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
