The Orlando Magic were supposed to take a massive step in the 2025-26 NBA season with stars Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, and Paolo Banchero leading the way. Instead, they are 28-25, sitting in 7th place in the Eastern Conference.
There’s plenty of talent on this squad, but the biggest problem is Banchero, whom they’ve invested $240+ million into.
This season, Banchero has averaged 21.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 45% shooting from the field. In his final game before the All-Star break, he posted 17 points but had a horrid 4th quarter, shooting 0-4 on field goals and 2-4 from the charity stripe.
Looking at a pathway forward for Orlando, they could ride it out with the former first overall pick, or they could look to get value and quickly pivot to the next iteration of their team.
This is where the “asset-filled” Brooklyn Nets come into play.
PREDICTION
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Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Paolo Banchero
Orlando Magic Receive: F Michael Porter Jr., 2026 BKN 1st Rounder
Why Would the Orlando Magic Make This Trade?
Banchero is just 23 years old, so he has a whole lot of basketball ahead of him. However, the red flags, such as a lack of aggressiveness, shown by his falling field goal attempt numbers between 2024 and 2025, are concerning.
Banchero was hyped up as a player with a similar playstyle to that of LeBron James, but he has really fallen flat.
In addition to his aggressiveness slipping, Banchero doesn’t have a consistently efficient offensive game. This comes from his steady diet of mid-range attempts. In turn, he’s never had a positive plus/minus in his entire NBA career.
One of the key components of this trade proposal would be the flag plant on the prospect of Franz Wagner being the Magic’s superstar. Plus/minus is not an exact science, but Wagner has been in the positive every single year of his career. He could be the face of the future in Orlando.
Why the Brooklyn Nets Would Trade Michael Porter Jr.
The Nets were reportedly shopping Michael Porter Jr. at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, but no deal came to fruition.
The first reason why the Brooklyn Nets would end up trading MPJ is the fact that he is only under contract until the 2026-27 season.
He’s also a player who has dealt with major injuries, as well as concerns over a possible early retirement: “So I’m committed to basketball and putting my all into it for the next year. And then after that, I’m gonna reevaluate.”
This is what the Nets forward said on a podcast before the 2025-26 season.
This was before his career year unfolded, but the sentiment still stands true. For a team still searching for its identity, banking on a 27-year-old athlete who isn’t guaranteed to play 10 more healthy seasons, let alone 2-3, isn’t the ideal approach.
Altogether, the Nets get a true blue-chip player in Paolo to build their team around, without having to give up anything more than a first-round selection.
Final Thoughts
The Magic will have a chance to make noise in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but they don’t seem to be in the same stratosphere as true contenders like the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
This idea was also discussed by TWSN’s Michael O’Hara before the NBA trade deadline. The Magic getting a haul of Michael Porter Jr. and a likely top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft should be enough to start their future behind the play of Franz Wagner instead of Paolo Banchero.
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