NBA trade news: Magic not done in trading season, Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier could be next
The Orlando Magic could just be warming up for the trading season, with reports claiming that their backcourt rotations of Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier are the next pieces to be moved before the Feb. 18 deadline.
The Magic has already made a splash before the deadline, sending forward Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova. But there is talk around the league that Orlando is not yet done dealing its youngsters and clearing the books for cap-flexibility this summer, with Oladipo and Fournier rumored to be next on the trading block.
In the past week, Oladipo has been linked to be moved as a filler in a deal that involves Harris. But with Harris already dealt to the Pistons, the Magic could package a separate deal around Oladipo for a veteran player who could bring playoff experience to the team.
However, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, it would be a surprise if the Magic would trade away Oladipo, the team’s second leading scorer with 14.3 points per game behind Nikola Vucevic. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan also told the Orlando Sentinel that the team will not trade the rest of their young core before the deadline.
A lot of readers have asked if the Magic will make another move -- one involving Victor Oladipo. I'd be surprised if he's traded.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) February 16, 2016
“The only way that changes is if another team swoops in and makes an offer the Magic can’t refuse,” Robbins noted. “But no offer of that kind is likely.”
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who had rightly predicted that Harris would be the odd man out, claimed Fournier could also be shipped, although there is not much trade chatter involving the French shooting guard.
“Evan Fournier is another restricted free agent heading toward a raise,” Lowe wrote. “The Magic love him, but they might listen.”
Fournier has also contributed well to the Magic, averaging 14.0 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting this season. Hennigan was keen on the 23-year-old Fournier and has described the Frenchman as a “great piece to continue to grow with our team,” despite cluttering a logjam at the team’s shooting guard position.
