The 2021-22 season has been a difficult one for the Orlando Magic. They have the worst record in the NBA at 9-39, as they are the only team that has failed to reach double-digit wins yet this season. The closest team to them are the Detroit Pistons, who are 11-35.
Despite the rough record, there is some optimism in Orlando. There is a lot of young, high-upside talent on the roster that is creating some excitement within the fan base, including Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner from the last two drafts.
Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., R.J. Hampton, Chuma Okeke and Mo Bamba are all 24-years of age or younger as well. This team has a high ceiling should the youngsters develop and could be challenging for a playoff spot sooner than later.
Alas, that isn’t going to happen this season. The Magic is in the early stages of a rebuild and the first season with first-time head coach Jamahl Mosley. They are committed to the future, which means they are a team to keep an eye on ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Players Most Likely To Be Moved At NBA Trade Deadline
There aren’t many teams that look like surefire sellers this year, but the Magic is one of them. And, they have some pieces that could generate some interest on the open market.
According to Marc Stein on Substack, which requires a paid subscription, the Magic are expected to trade two of their veteran shoot guards; Terrence Ross and Gary Harris.
I passed along this update via Twitter on Sunday night purely because Orlando’s Terrence Ross and Gary Harris are names to monitor whenever they pop up these days. The Magic are widely expected to trade one or both before the Feb. 10 trade deadline depending on the level of draft capital they can get in return.
Terrence Ross is one of the premier sixth men in the NBA. He provides instant offense off the bench and would bolster a contender’s second unit. He is in the midst of the worst shooting season of his career, making only 31 percent of his 3-point attempts, but has a proven track record that this could be more of a blip than a trend.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Players Most Likely To Be Moved At NBA Trade Deadline
Gary Harris had the look of a premier 3-and-D player throughout his rookie contract with the Denver Nuggets, knocking down 37.1 percent of his 3-point attempts the first four seasons of his career, including 42 percent in his third season and 39.6 percent in his fourth.
Unfortunately, his shooting stroke disappeared after that and injuries began taking a toll. But, this season, Harris has started finding his 3-point shot, as he has made 35.6 percent of his attempts, which would be his best percentage since his fourth season in the NBA.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Players Most Likely To Be Moved At NBA Trade Deadline
If the Magic can get a first-round pick, a young player who hasn’t panned out yet with the team he currently plays for or multiple second-round picks, that could be enough to acquire Terrence Ross or Gary Harris from Orlando.
