The Orlando Magic were the biggest winners of the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery. They finished with the second-worst record in the NBA, behind the Detroit Pistons, which meant they had the second-highest odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick and couldn’t pick lower than sixth.
Lady Luck was on their side, as the Magic landed the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. With that pick, it sounds as if Orlando will go in one of three directions; Jabari Smith Jr. out of Auburn, Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga or Paolo Banchero out of Duke.
Smith has been the player analysts have pegged as the likely No. 1 pick, but Holmgren has a strong case as well. Both would be great fits in Orlando, but their arrival would mean something has to change on the roster.
Speculation is rampant that Mo Bamba is going to be moving on this offseason as a result. The restricted free agent likely won’t have a spot in the rotation should he want to return to the Magic. The team already committed an extension to Wendell Carter Jr., which complicates this as well.
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But, what if the Orlando Magic decide they want to retain Bamba and are willing to trade someone like Carter? The Dallas Mavericks are one team that is on the lookout for a big man this season and the former Duke product could intrigue them.
What would it take for Carter to land in Dallas? Let’s take a look at two hypothetical trades that could get the job done.
