The Orlando Magic are proving their success last season was no fluke, as the team is flying high in the Eastern Conference with the No. 3 seed and a 17-9 record. They’ve achieved this despite being without Paolo Banchero for the last 21 games, a stretch they’ve gone 14-7 in. With Franz Wagner getting sidelined for the next 8-10 weeks at the minimum, the Magic might need reinforcements to keep their success atop the East intact.
The Sacramento Kings are stuck in the middle of the West once again, having a 12-13 record good enough for the No. 12 seed in the cutthroat Conference. They clearly have made missteps with their roster construction so far, with a very talented team that doesn’t seem to fit well on the court with an overemphasis on offense.
The Kings have a competitive DNA now, but the Magic could acquire their point guard De’Aaron Fox with an impossible-to-refuse offer to help the Kings pivot while making the Magic contenders.
Trade Details
Orlando Magic Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Colby Jones
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Jett Howard, 2025 First-Round Pick (DEN), 2026 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2028 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2030 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2027 Second-Round Pick (ORL), 2027 Second-Round Pick (BOS)
This is a rich package for Fox, but his performances over the last three seasons have firmly established him as one of the best guards in the NBA. The only glaring weakness for the Magic is their guard play and offensive creation, so acquiring Fox will fix that problem while adding another player who can adapt to their defensive identity, albeit for a massive trade package.
The Magic Put Together A Deep And Competitive Roster
The Orlando Magic are proving this season that their true strength lies in their collective group and coach Jamahl Mosley. They’ve not been bothered by Banchero’s absence and won their first game without Franz Wagner, as guard Jalen Suggs stepped up. Suggs might be a guard for the future, but he might be better off embracing a Derrick White-esque role if his jumper can improve next to a true star point guard.
Fox is averaging 26.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists this season. While he’s a spotty shooter, Fox can do almost everything you need a point guard to do. He’s competent in half-court situations, can be an aggressive defender, and is a fearless scorer who relentlessly attacks opposing defenses. He would be the perfect guard next to Banchero and Wagner, as the Magic assemble a truly excellent big three in the Eastern Conference.
This trade can’t be executed before January 6, 2025, so they could have Banchero back by the time they start integrating Fox. Key depth pieces like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Harris, and rookie Tristan Da Silva would supplement the core players extremely well and form one of the most competitive rosters in the NBA.
The Kings Pivot To A New Formula
This trade is definitely a step back for the Kings, who might need to tank the rest of the season to maximize their hopes of returning to the Playoffs in the coming years. If they don’t intend on doing that, trading Fox will still keep the core of a competitive roster alive, especially if Domantas Sabonis can take a step up in production and become the true No. 1 option on the franchise.
Jonathan Isaac’s stats don’t reflect his value, as he’s averaging 6.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks but is one of the best defenders in the NBA. The Kings desperately need a player like Isaac on their roster to provide some defensive cover to the offensive specialists around.
Anthony Black and Jett Howard are lottery picks from the 2023 NBA Draft who have high potential, with Black as a versatile combo guard and Howard as a two-way shooter. Black and Howard’s development could set the Kings up nicely in the future although it might result in a minor step back.
They have had 10 years to build a contender around Fox and the best they have managed is a first-round exit. That’s remarkable given the Kinsg were in the midst of a 16-year Playoff drought, but it might not be enough to justify continuing to try and contend with this core at the moment.
This deal gives them young players and a King’s ransom in terms of draft picks for an athletic point guard entering his late 20s and one who could soon be a free agent.
A Deal That’s Hard To Execute But Best For Both Franchises
Giving up that many assets for Fox won’t be easy, but he would completely transform the Magic from plucky underdogs to genuine threats to teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. At the moment, it’d be hard to even pick them in a Playoff series against the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, or even the Philadelphia 76ers if they get healthy. Fox is the difference-maker they need.
The Kings won’t be happy to part with their franchise point guard, someone who they believed in so much that they chose to pass on drafting Luka Doncic in 2018. But the offer they’re getting back could substantially set the franchise up for years of success, with talented young pieces, a standout defender, and control over a majority of a franchise’s draft picks for the remaining decade.
Both teams have a lot to gain from this deal, so if Fox grows uncertain about his future in Sacramento, Orlando might be a hospitable next step.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
