Magic trade for two-time Bulls All-Star makes too much sense not to happen

The Magic started the season on a strong note, establishing themselves as one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference despite Paolo Banchero. missed time due to injury. This success was driven by the No. 2 defense in the NBA. What’s holding them back from advancing is the No. 25 offense.

Orlando will improve in this regard once Banchero returns from injury, but he still needs to find a way to break into the top 10 forwards if he wants to have a real chance to take the next step. There is one very affordable player on the trade market who can purchase Magic there and it won’t cost much.

This deal makes too much sense not to happen, so don’t be surprised if you see it early in the New Year.

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Ideal Magic trade for Zach LaVine

The Bulls have been trying to acquire Zach LaVine since the middle of last season. There were no takers due to LaVine’s down year, injury concerns and concerns over his $43 million contract.

LaVine is healthy and back in great shape and looks as good as he did during the All-Star Game. He’s averaging 22.0 points per game on a stellar 51.2 percent shooting from the field and 43.2 percent from three-point range.

Given the situation in Chicago, LaVine is very accessible. Here’s what a potential deal might look like.

Note. Due to trade restrictions this must occur after January 2nd.

Trade

Magic gets:

• Zach LaVine
• Jevon Carter
• Torrey Craig

Bulls receive:

• Jonathan Isaac
• Cole Anthony
• Anthony Black
• 2025 first round draft pick (via DEN)

MORE: Yes, the Cavs are the real deal.

Why does Magic do this?

Orlando hasn’t had an above-average offense since the 2010-11 season. Last season he ranked 22nd. The team needs pure scorers.

The Magic have tried to modernize their offense. They’re making 22 percent more 3-pointers than last season. The problem is that they don’t produce anything. They rank last in the NBA in three-point percentage, making only 30.5% of their shots from long range.

LaVine has always been a tremendous three-point shooter, making 38.4 percent of his shots in his career. This season he has reached another level. He’s one of the best marksmen in the game and will immediately become the best marksman the Magic has seen in years.

LaVine is also a master at creating something out of nothing. He is a tremendous shooter who can score from anywhere and do it efficiently. He is also one of the best finishers and rushers in the league with gifted athleticism that has seen him win two dunk contests. This should be music to the ears of Magic fans who are used to seeing their offensive skills go nowhere.

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Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig are replacements in this deal, but both are solid veterans who can play in a pinch. Carter is an undersized defensive pitbull who was a reliable third guard for the Bucks during times when his three was down. Craig is a 3rd and D forward with excellent offensive rebounding skills who hasn’t played much, mostly due to Chicago’s youth movement.

This deal shouldn’t be an easy sell for the Magic. This is an extremely low price for them and will give them a very good chance of being the No. 3 team in the East this season. They still have the potential to be even better next year as their young players continue to improve, and they will keep a ton of picks to make more trades in the future.

The players the Magic are moving on are good, but not important. Isaac is crucial when he’s healthy, but that’s never enough. Anthony has been on a downward spiral this season, and as a result he has been unable to find consistent playing time. Black is a good young prospect who will be hard to part with, but LaVine is a much better player at this point and is still only 29 years old.

The Magic may not have to include any picks in this deal. If the Bulls do stretch, the Nuggets’ 2025 pick is projected to be in the mid-20s. This could balance things out.

MORE: Lakers trade former utility guard for $48 million in hypothetical deal

Why are the Bulls doing this?

Chicago’s No. 1 priority this year should be holding onto their draft pick and moving on to Cooper Flagg. He’ll have to send his first-rounder to San Antonio if he finishes outside the top 10.

With LaVine in the lineup, the Bulls were too good to be comfortable hovering around the bottom 10 mark. They need to get him off the team to maximize those chances because they already started the demolition over the summer by trading Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan. There should be no half measures here.

The Bulls have the worst rim defense in the league. Nikola Vucevic could also be leaving soon. He’s having a great offensive season, but he can’t block shots. Isaac would give them a 27-year-old with Defensive Player of the Year potential. Black is also considered a good defender. The Bulls are trying to recreate an identity as a fast-paced team, and these two can run the floor well while trying to lift them up from a defensive position that ranks in the bottom ten.

MORE: The history of the Bulls may repeat itself after another failed deal by the Thunder.

Black is the real prize here. The Bulls tried to trade their point guard of the future in Josh Giddey, who didn’t play well during contract year. Black, the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, could be a top option. Even if the Bulls had kept Giddy, the two could have played together. Black’s defense and striking potential will hide Giddy’s weaknesses.

Win-win deals are hard to find, so they don’t happen as often as fans would like. This is one of them. Once Isaac becomes eligible to be traded on January 2nd, these teams should pull the trigger on this deal.