Magic Trade For Jonas Valanciunas, Dyson Daniels from Pelicans in Mock Deal

With trade season heating up, the Orlando Magic have been mentioned in a mock trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.

As the NBA’s trade season gets into its full swing, the Orlando Magic are not a team that has been mentioned much. With a core of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, and excellent role players in Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, and Markelle Fultz, the Magic are prioritizing development over adding star power.

Of course, adding a piece here or a draft pick there can’t hurt, as long as the prolonged success of Orlando’s young nucleus remains the focus. A mock trade proposed by ESPN would bring in veteran talent at a low cost.

New Orleans Pelicans Dyson Daniels (11) takes Anthony Black (0) off the dribble.  / © Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY

Orlando receives Jonas Valančiūnas and Dyson Daniels, New Orleans receives Wendell Carter Jr. and Chuma Okeke.

In this proposed deal, Orlando immediately receives an upgrade at the center position. Valančiūnas posts more points and rebounds than Carter Jr., despite playing in a crowded frontcourt with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Dyson Daniels is also a step up over Okeke, who has regressed every year in the league. Daniels is a defensive specialist who has emerged as one of the more underrated young players in the league, despite his poor shooting.

New Orleans would take this deal just to clear some cap space to make another trade. Valančiūnas is owed $15.4 million this season, but both he and Daniels could be off the books this summer. Daniels has a team option for the next two years, and Valančiūnas is a free agent this summer. Okeke is also a free agent, but Carter Jr. is under contract until 2025-26. 

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With Valančiūnas off the books, the Pelicans could make a deal to bring in a talented backcourt player like Malcolm Brogdon, Trae Young, or Dejounte Murray. Of course, the Pelicans would have to move more players to open up the cap space for a deal like that, but there are rumblings that Herb Jones is on the trade block.

In the proposed ESPN deal, the Magic would be the team that helps New Orleans make a splash, but Daniels could become an important piece as the Magic assemble a winning roster.