Paolo Banchero’s ankle injury has only sharpened the Golden State Warriors’ interest in the Orlando Magic as a possible trade partner.
Orlando entered the season as a team worth watching for Golden State, and that idea gains more weight now that Banchero is dealing with a low grade ankle sprain that ESPN’s Shams Charania reported could keep him out 4-6 weeks. The timing is rough for a Magic team already under pressure after opening the year with two losses, including a 22-point defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, when Banchero was hurt.
Before that injury, Banchero was carrying his usual load. He put up 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday’s season opener against the Atlanta Hawks, then had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes against Minnesota before leaving with the sprain.
The injury comes at a moment when Orlando already had some big roster decisions looming. The Magic have acknowledged they face tough calls over the next 12 months, but those choices could come faster if the team struggles while Banchero is sidelined.
Money is part of the picture, too. Orlando’s starting five of Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. is tied up on major contracts, and the team decided not to extend young guard Anthony Black, who will now head toward restricted free agency next year.
Golden State, meanwhile, has its own reasons to keep an eye on the situation after a rough start that featured a fourth-quarter collapse against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. The Warriors may also need to make moves sooner rather than later, but unlike Orlando, they have more room to maneuver in the long-term payroll picture.
That gives Golden State a potential opening. The Warriors could help ease Orlando’s financial pressure while also bringing back a player who fits their rotation - or even a higher-level talent. Banchero and Wagner would be obvious names if the Magic ever decide to break up their young core.
Suggs and Black may be less appealing to Golden State now that Brandin Podziemski has signed a five-year, $110 million extension, but Carter stands out as a possible target because of the Warriors’ need for a starting center.
For now, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors’ front office will be watching Orlando closely as Banchero recovers, hoping the Magic’s salary situation and uneven start create a window to strike.
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