The Magic Insider

NBA Trade Rumors: Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero 'Untouchable'

Paolo Banchero isn't leaving the Orlando Magic anytime soon after winning Rookie of the Year.

Jeremy Brener

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic has a lot of players that won't warrant trade consideration this summer. Every young piece on the Magic roster flashed some type of ability that improves his future stock this past season.

However, Bleacher Report believes that the only untouchable player on the team is Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.

"Orlando's 12-win jump from a season ago was in big part thanks to Banchero, who led the Magic (and all rookies) with an even 20.0 points per game," Bleacher Report writes. "His 6.9 rebounds were good for fifth among all first-year players, while his 3.7 assists ranked third. The Magic have some real building blocks now, with Banchero joining Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Bol Bol and Markelle Fultz as players all 24 or younger to grow with. For now, Banchero has the highest ceiling and the highest floor, as his blend of size and athleticism will continue to be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams."

The Magic could be in line to make a big trade this summer for a veteran piece that can help Orlando become a more complete team sooner. With two first-round picks and room running out in the rotation, the Magic could package some assets and cash in for a valuable asset. There's a good chance most of the Magic core is safe, but Banchero is the player deemed the most "untouchable."

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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