NBA Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic Must Keep Underrated Ryan Anderson

Everybody knows Dwight Howard is the best player on the Orlando Magic, but not nearly as many people outside of Florida understand Ryan Anderson is a close second. That's why trading the underrated power forward would be a terrible move.

There's been a lot of drama surrounding the Magic this season after Howard's trade request became public. A day doesn't go by without a new rumor now that the NBA trade deadline is just a couple of weeks away, and it often leads to players like Anderson being wrapped up in the mess.

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports Anderson is doing whatever he can to focus on basketball, as tough as that has become recently:

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Ryan Anderson's name has come up in rumors, just as many of his teammates' names have.

“I think we just have to block it out,” Anderson said. “We have to do everything we can to not involve ourselves in it because this happens with every team every year. But just the fact that we have the biggest story and the guy that obviously is such a big part of this team and this community, we're magnified.”

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It's good to see Anderson is keeping a positive outlook during a hectic time. He's enjoying a breakout season thanks to a large uptick in minutes. The California product is averaging 16 points and seven rebounds while starting all but one game.

While those basic stats are nice, it's his efficiency that makes him extremely valuable. Anderson is shooting 44 percent from the field, including 43 percent from beyond the arc, and isn't a liability at the free-throw line like so many other post players.

He's able to stretch the floor since he can knock down the outside shot, but his interior game has also improved since joining the NBA. His ability to draw defenses anywhere on the court opens more space for Howard to operate in the paint.

It's pretty clear Anderson is a key piece of Orlando's roster, but does his market value match his actual value to the Magic? Probably not.

If a team is approaching general manager Otis Smith about a post player, it's most likely going to be Howard. Anderson is more likely viewed as a fallback option should a Howard deal not work out, and he's worth a lot more than that.

Nobody knows what's going to happen with the Howard debacle. Keeping Anderson would at least ensure they have one legitimate big man on the roster.

He's just 23 years old and is a restricted free agent during the offseason, so it's not like the Magic need to have any type of urgency in attempting to move him. Howard, on the other hand, could walk away at season's end and leave the Magic out to dry.

All told, it certainly looks like the Magic roster will take on a brand new look heading into next season, one way or another. It's vital they keep as many key cogs as possible, like Anderson, so attracting free agents doesn't become impossible without Howard.

It might surprise some NBA fans outside the 407 area code, but Anderson has developed into somebody to build around. He's definitely not someone to trade just for the sake of making a deal.