How This Trade Impacts Orlando Magic
Unless the Orlando Magic are big fans of Luke Kennard, this is likely a deal that they would decline. A rebuilding team likely isn’t looking to clog up their long-term salary cap space with a contract such as the one that Kennard has. Usually, they are looking to shed those kinds of deals.
Kennard signed a four-year, $64 million deal last offseason when he was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the LA Clippers. The last year of the deal is a team option, which makes it a little more palatable as whichever team Kennard is on could decline that option.
But, were this to be a trade that interested Orlando, Kennard does bring elite 3-point shooting to the table. It is something the team could certainly use more of, as their current backcourt is lacking when it comes to spacing.
Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Jalen Suggs, and Michael Carter-Williams are all underwhelming shooters, at least right now, from 3-point range. Kennard would provide some much-needed spacing as he is a 41.3 percent career shooter from deep and made a career-high 44.6 percent last season.
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The Magic could also allow him to do some more playmaking, something he showed some capabilities of doing with the Pistons in his last season in Detroit. He averaged 4.1 assists per game, more than double his highest average any other season.
Kennard is also five years younger than Ross, so he fits the team’s timeline better. But, Orlando could probably get a deal that doesn’t come with the long-term money that Kennard does as Ross will likely be a popular name in trade rumors once again.
