Magic Trade Rumors: Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac Considered Only Untouchables
March 16, 2021
As the March 25 NBA trade deadline nears, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reports the Orlando Magic are open for business with only Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz considered untouchable in potential discussions.
Orlando is 13-26, three games above last place in the Eastern Conference, and has few internal options to turn things around. Notably, All-Star center Nikola Vucevic was not listed as unavailable, per Mannix, which could put one of the league's more versatile big men on the trade block.
Vucevic is in the midst of a career-year, posting 25 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 39 contests while shooting 49 percent from the field with a career-best 41.6 percent from behind the arc. The 30-year-old still has two years left on his deal, too, which could make an attractive target for team's with a wide open window for contention.
The USC product is set to earn $24 million in 2021-22 and $22 million 2022-23 before reaching free agency.
Elsewhere on the roster, shooting guard Evan Fournier holds a contract that expires after this season while forward Aaron Gordon is scheduled to reach free agency next offseason and will earn $16.4 million in 2021-22.
Terrence Ross is also reportedly available and at 29 still averaging 16 points per game.
Mannix noted the Magic are interested in adding point guard Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it remains to be seen what the last-place T-Wolves would require in return.
Orlando certainly has options as it weighs the next steps of its rebuild. Finding the right ones to take advantage of will prove their biggest challenge of the year as the deadline nears.