JUST IN: Magic trade young talent in exchange for five-time All-Star.
Orlando boasts a promising young core with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. The vision of constructing a talented, balanced team capable of competing in the Eastern Conference becomes more tangible with each game as these young players develop together. Consequently, the temptation to speed up their progress and make a significant move to transform the Magic into contenders is very strong.
It’s not just the Magic fans who are noticing. Around the league, there’s growing recognition of Orlando’s talent, salary cap flexibility, and trade assets, with the team frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot for any star entering the trade or free agency market.
The latest player to be linked with such speculation is Donovan Mitchell. Following another disappointing playoff performance for the Cavaliers, rumors suggest that either Mitchell or his backcourt partner, Darius Garland, could be on their way out of Cleveland. In response, Bleacher Report has proposed several hypothetical trades for Mitchell, including one that sees him joining the Magic.
Proposed mock trade has Magic give up on youth to land Mitchell
If Donovan Mitchell becomes available, a bidding war is likely to ensue. Teams like the Lakers, who are desperate for a player to help them win immediately, would be eager to make a move. Although the Magic aren’t in the same win-now mindset, they do need an offensive powerhouse.
Mitchell fits that role perfectly. He is an explosive scorer and an adept playmaker with substantial playoff experience. His presence would alleviate some of the scoring and playmaking responsibilities from youngsters Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, allowing them to develop without the burden of being the primary offensive options. Defensively, with Jalen Suggs in the backcourt, the Magic would have someone capable of handling the toughest guard assignments.
Acquiring Mitchell wouldn’t come cheap, as highlighted in the following trade proposal by Bleacher Report:
Magic receive: Donovan Mitchell
**Cavaliers receive:** Anthony Black, Jett Howard, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick swap
Would it be worth trading all that for Mitchell?
As mentioned before, the Magic certainly have a need for Mitchell’s skill set, but that is quite the haul. Anthony Black and Jett Howard are the Magic’s most recent first-round picks. Despite their potential, neither has played many meaningful NBA minutes yet, and giving up on them so early in their careers would not be ideal.
Additionally, trading away that many future picks would limit Orlando’s flexibility in the trade market moving forward. While the Cavaliers want to recoup the substantial investment they made for Mitchell, Orlando might not be the best team to facilitate that.
Sacrificing so much for a player who might leave in 2025 if he’s unhappy in Orlando, and who could potentially reduce Paolo Banchero’s and Franz Wagner’s touches, seems excessive. The Magic do need to make moves to improve, but they’re not under pressure to make a big, all-in trade. For teams like the Heat or Lakers, which Bleacher Report also mentions, going all-in for Mitchell makes much more sense.
The Magic’s core trio of Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs are all 22 or younger. Even with the addition of a star player, expecting them to compete at the highest NBA level next season might be unrealistic. The organization would need to be very confident in their ability to compete immediately or in Mitchell’s willingness to stay in Orlando long-term before making such a significant move.