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hotos above courtesy of Orlando Magic for Headline Surfer / TOP: Orlando Magic veteran guard Tyus Jones (left) and two future second-round draft picks, traded to the Charlotte Hornets for cash considerations before the NBA trade deadline. Former Orlando Magic All-Star center Nikola Vučević (right) was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Boston Celtics. LEFT: Courtesy photo image / The Orlando Magic’s primary starting five, when healthy, has featured Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. This lineup has been highly successful, maintaining a high net rating so far this NBA season.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Magic were relatively quiet at the NBA trading deadline on Thursday as numerous other teams made moves.
The 2025-26 NBA trade deadline featured significant league-wide activity, highlighted by James Harden moving to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Mavericks trading Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. Other major deals included the Warriors sending Jonathan Kuminga to the Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis and the Jazz acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Orlando Magic made one trade before the deadline, dealing veteran guard Tyus Jones and two future second-round draft picks to the Charlotte Hornets for cash considerations. This move, finalized late Wednesday before the Thursday deadline, was primarily a salary dump to drop Orlando below the luxury tax threshold.
Key 2026 NBA Trade Deadline Moves:
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Acquired James Harden to bolster their roster.
• Washington Wizards: Acquired Anthony Davis from the Mavericks.
• Atlanta Hawks: Acquired Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield from the Warriors.
• Utah Jazz: Acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies in a major package involving picks.
• Los Angeles Lakers: Acquired Luke Kennard, sending Gabe Vincent to the Hawks.
• While major stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant remained with their teams, the deadline was characterized by a high volume of moves, challenging the traditional notion that significant trades are rare during this period.
Former Orlando Magic All-Star center Nikola Vučević was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Boston Celtics in a bevy of league moves before Thursday’s NBA trading deadline.
The Boston Celtics have acquired some frontline depth for the playoff run after getting Vučević from the Chicago Bulls for guard Anfernee Simons.
Boston receives:
Nikola Vučević;
Future second-round pick;
Chicago receives:
Anfernee Simons;
Future second-round pick.
Vučević was a cornerstone for the Orlando Magic for over eight seasons (2012–2021) after being traded there from Philadelphia, earning two All-Star selections (2019, 2021) before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in March 2021. He arrived in Orlando as part of the four-team Dwight Howard trade and later became a franchise leader in rebounds.
Key details regarding Vucevic’s time in Orlando:
Tenure: He played 8 1/2 seasons with the Magic, appearing in 10 playoff games with the team.
Accolades: He was named an NBA All-Star twice (2019 and 2021) while with the organization.
Trade Details: In March 2021, the Magic traded Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks (2021 and 2023).
Impact: He is ranked highly in franchise history, specifically for his rebounding ability, where he moved past Shaquille O’Neal for second on the all-time Magic rebounding list.
Before his long tenure in Orlando, Vucevic was originally drafted 16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011.
Orlando Magic make one trade berfore NBA deadline
The Orlando Magic made one trade before the deadline, dealing veteran guard Tyus Jones and two future second-round draft picks to the Charlotte Hornets for cash considerations.
This move, finalized late Wednesday before the Thursday deadline, was primarily a salary dump to drop Orlando below the luxury tax threshold.
Key Details:
Trade: Tyus Jones and two 2nd-round picks to Charlotte for cash.
Purpose: To get under the NBA luxury tax threshold.
Other Moves: No other trades were made, with the team staying quiet on deadline day.
Impact: The team shed Jones’ $7 million contract.
The Magic have acquired cash considerations from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guard Tyus Jones and two future second-round draft picks (2027, least favorable of Orlando-Boston, 2028 Orlando), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.
Jones (6’0”, 196, 5/10/96) has played in 48 games (eight starts) this season with Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg., 2.4 apg. and 1.1 rpg. in 15.7 minpg. Originally selected in the first round (24th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by Cleveland, Jones has appeared in 730 career NBA regular season games (226 starts) with Minnesota, Memphis, Washington, Phoenix, and Orlando, averaging 7.4 ppg., 4.3 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.8 minpg. while shooting .373 (722-1,935) from three-point range and .823 (497-604) from the free throw line.
Multimedia: Biggest winners & grading deals after the NBA Trade Deadline | NBA Today
Headline Surfer YouTube download / Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 / Malika Andrews – ESPN video / On the NBA Today Trade Deadline Special, the panel talks through the biggest winners following the NBA Trade Deadline, then grades some of the deals.
About the Byline Writer:
Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008. The site serves the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando areas along the I-4 corridor and beyond via HeadlineSurfer.com in Lake Mary, Florida. Frederick earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Orlando in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade, and before that, the same beat with The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. He’s also worked as a city editor and city hall reporter for two dailies. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida’s death chamber and covering other high-profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz & the Oxygen Network series “Snapped” for his analysis. Assisting Henry Frederick with Headline Surfer is Sera King, who writes about the weather and feature stories, takes photos, shoots video, and occasionally draws editorial cartoons. • Bio: https://henryfrederick.com/.