The Orlando Magic have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season. Despite missing both of their star players Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner due to injury, Orlando still sits third in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-10 record.
Orlando’s success has mainly been due to their elite defensive play, especially from Defensive Player of the Year hopeful, Jalen Suggs. They are allowing an NBA-best 103.7 points per game to opposing teams. They also rank near the top of the league in steals and blocks per game as a team.
While the Magic have stayed near the top of the East without their two biggest stars, they could look to add more scoring to their roster. One name that has entered trade rumors is the Sacramento Kings’ All-Star guard, De’Aaron Fox.
Fox is signed through the 2025-26 season, but he and the Kings have yet to agree on a new extension. Because of both this and the Kings’ struggles this season, Sacramento may be willing to trade him away for the right price.
In a possible trade, Orlando could send a package of Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris and multiple first-round picks to Sacramento for Fox and Kevin Huerter. Note that this trade cannot be completed until Jan. 2 due to Isaac’s recently signed restriction.
With the Kings struggling, they could revamp their lineup around Domantas Sabonis with the players in this trade while also replenishing their limited amount of future draft capital.
For the Magic, adding a star player like Fox would only increase their odds of coming out of the East this season once Banchero and Wagner return from injury. Fox has had one of the best seasons of his career this year as he is averaging 26.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He is also shooting 48.9% from the field and 33.1% from three.
With Orlando desperately needing offensive help, they would get that in both Fox and Huerter. Fox has averaged 20 or more points per game in all but two seasons of his eight-year career while Huerter has been one of the most underrated outside shooters since entering the NBA in 2018.
By adding Fox to a lineup that consists of Suggs, Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. as well as Huerter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope off the bench, Orlando would be in a good position to win the franchise’s first title this season.
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