Currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Magic have their sights set on finding playoff success and could use some guard help.
The idea of moving on from either Kris Dunn or Denzel Valentine is not one that sits incredibly well with me, but the way things have shaken out this year it could be a wise move. Kris Dunn has resurrected himself a bit this season, establishing himself as one of the top perimeter defenders in all of basketball. Dunn’s ability to make plays for his teammates and play stifling defense are a major attraction for teams looking to contend for a title. Adding a defender such as Dunn to the one spot is also a great fit in Orlando’s defensive-minded scheme.
In addition to his skillset, Orlando is in need of a point guard. Markelle Fultz has been a very pleasant surprise so far for the Magic, but adding a more suitable defender in Dunn could be a major asset in the playoffs. Even if the Magic did decide to roll with Fultz, Orlando could certainly still utilize him off of the bench or even start him at the two if needed for defensive or fill-in purposes.
Denzel Valentine has been criminally underutilized for the Bulls this season, and if this trend continues, there is no reason to keep him around after February 6th just to let him walk with no return this summer. Valentine’s trade value is hard to gauge, as the former lottery pick has played well in his limited opportunities in Chicago but just hasn’t had much of a chance to show off his skills. However, three-point shooting is always a hot commodity in the NBA, and Orlando would be wise to add some for their playoff run.
The Grizzlies’ second-round pick would also need to be added to this deal due to the fact that Orlando’s first-round selection will be quite a valuable one. Orlando’s first-round pick will more than likely be in the teens, which is an extremely valuable asset for the Bulls to have. Picking with two first-rounders this year could mean adding two more very good rotational guys or even packaging these picks together in some way to add an established star to the roster.
Lastly, D.J. Augustin is added to the deal in order to make the salaries work. However, Augustin would be a solid piece in the Bulls’ rotation for the rest of the 2019-2020 season. With the abundance of point guards on the Bulls’ roster, he would almost certainly be a free-agent departure in the Summer. However, his offensive skillset could help the Bulls make a playoff push at the end of this year.