ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA’s Trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m. Thursday and the Orlando Magic made several major deals.
Usually the trade deadline passes without many fireworks, but this year, it’s clear the Magic have decided to blow up their roster and start over.
The team traded away its three best players, including their only All-Star in Nikola Vucevic.
READ: Track Shack team up with Orlando Magic for its first virtual 5K
He’d spent the last nine years in Orlando and was the cornerstone of the team.
Thank you, @NikolaVucevic 💙 pic.twitter.com/u4l4dwuRRg
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 25, 2021
He’d said multiple times he wanted to stay in Orlando, but according to ESPN, the Magic sent him and Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls.
In exchange, the Magic got two young players in Otto Porter, Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr., as well as two first round picks in 2021 and 2023.
The Magic also decided to part ways with Evan Fournier, sending him to the Boston Celtics in exchange for two second round draft picks.
Fournier has been the team’s starting shooting guard since 2014, but had several seasons derailed by injuries.
With today's trades the @OrlandoMagic currently have 7 lottery picks on their roster including:
— Joe Kepner (@JKepnerWFTV) March 25, 2021
6 taken in the top 10
4 taken in the top 6
The Magic ended the day with one final trade, reportedly agreeing to send Aaron Gordon to the Denver Nuggets, along with backup forward Gary Clark.
For that deal, the Magic received a first round pick in 2025 and two more young players in R.J. Hampton and Gary Harris.
The moves point to a complete rebuild in Orlando for President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and General Manager John Hammond. The pair joined the organization in 2017.
Cox Media Group
