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The NBA draft and free agency roller coaster has almost concluded and one of the biggest trades that transpired was seen as a big mistake for the Orlando Magic.
Zach Lowe of ESPN evaluates Orlando in the aftermath of the trade. The Magic sent Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the no.11 pick of this year's draft (Domantas Sabonis).
Many scoffed at this trade because Ibaka was no longer seen as the defensive force that he once was. He was not used as much in the playoffs and the Thunder's "Big Three" was Durant, Westbrook and Adams more than Ibaka. Also, Oladipo is seen as a rising star with substantial upside, not to mention they also traded away a lottery pick.
But Lowe mentioned that trading Oladipo would become necessary, or they may have to choose between keeping him or restricted free agent Evan Fournier (which they did retain).
"The money crunch hits every team that spends a half-decade in the lottery," Lowe explained. "Great prospects get expensive once their rookie deals expire; you eventually have to shed someone. Utah is staring down this dilemma, and the Magic have already addressed it by dealing Harris, Harkless, and Oladipo -- with the latter up for a mega-extension, and (for now) seeking the maximum salary, sources say."
The Magic were probably not sold on Oladipo as a long-term fit and preferred to keep Fournier (a better shooter) instead. Now, Oladipo is the Oklahoma City Thunder's dilemma.
But the Magic also have a big question mark of their own. Serge Ibaka is a free agent at the end of the 2017 season and there is no assurance that he will stay (probably why the Thunder decided to trade him).
The Magic clearly wanted to address their interior defense and they were not sure they could address that through free agency. Ibaka was insurance and since they eventually succeeded in signing Bismack Biyombo, they would probably be fine if Ibaka leaves, as Ric Bucher predicted in this Bleacher Report video.
While Bucher mentioned that Ibaka could be a building block and the Magic will try to retain him but there simply will be better teams throwing the max at him.
