Orlando Magic
The Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic made a big trade ahead of the 2021 deadline, which is when Nikola Vucevic ended up in The Windy City. Could the two come together on another deal, this time centered around a guard?
Orlando has added a ton of young talent with their draft picks in the last few years. They are hopeful that will make up their future core that will get the team to be competitive again in the Eastern Conference. That should present the Bulls with a chance to make a deal.
Markelle Fultz has done a good job getting his career back on track after a rough start with the Philadelphia 76ers. His confidence was shattered and his shooting form was all anyone could take about, but with the Orlando Magic, Fultz has turned into a solid player.
His 3-point shooting still needs work, but the improvements that he has made at the free throw line at least provide some hope that he can become someone that teams at least have to respect shooting from the perimeter.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dallas Mavericks & Orlando Magic Updates
A very capable playmaker and good defender, Fultz would be a solid addition as the third guard in the Mavericks’ rotation. His limitations as a shooter make him a little more difficult of a pairing, but his playmaking would enable Doncic and Dinwiddie to have more freedom playing off the ball.
The earliest that the Mavericks can include a first-round pick is 2027 because the 2023 first-rounder that they sent to the New York Knicks is top-10 protected through 2025. Dallas could include their 2027 first-round pick in a deal.
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Because the Orlando Magic still have a little bit of cap space, salaries don’t have to match perfectly; Orlando can take back up to $17.3 million in the deal. A combination of Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber or Reggie Bullock with Josh Green and a pick could get the job done. With Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs on the roster, Fultz is an expendable player.
