The Orlando Magic’s 3-point problems are already staring them in the face, and a possible early-season trade idea would attack that weakness by bringing in a proven shooter.
Through a 2-5 start in the 2026-27 season, Orlando has again found itself short on perimeter production. The team is sitting 18th in the league in 3-point percentage at 34.3%, and while there have been a few signs of progress, the overall numbers still aren’t where they need to be.
Even with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs expected back from injuries eventually, that alone may not be enough to clean up the issue. The season is still young, but if the Magic keep struggling from deep, the front office may have to start looking for a more dependable answer before February’s NBA Trade Deadline.
One possible target is Los Angeles Clippers guard Max Strus.
The logic is simple enough: Orlando is unlikely to swing for a massive deal, but it could pursue a veteran role player with playoff experience. Strus fits that mold, and the Clippers’ situation makes him a name to watch.
Los Angeles is 1-6, and after a scandalous offseason that led to punishment for cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, the outlook there is bleak. Strus is also in the final year of a four-year, $62.2 million contract, which makes him a possible piece to move.
Any deal would require the Magic to give up something, and the names in play here are two veterans.
Moving off Vucevic would not be a small decision, and the article makes clear that it is not being pushed as the preferred move right now. He still carries value in the locker room, and there is a mutual love between him and the fan base.
His offseason signing was the biggest one Orlando made, but the production has barely shown up. Vucevic has been limited to 9.6 minutes per game and is averaging 3.1 points and three rebounds.
At 36, he is no longer the player he once was, especially in a reserve role. Still, the Magic could use more from him, and if his role and output don’t increase, the possibility of moving on would have to be considered.
Isaac is the tougher call. The Magic would have to part with him, and he has not played yet this season because of a knee injury.
Injuries and inconsistency have followed him throughout his career, even after Orlando brought him back on a one-year deal. Whether the Clippers or another team would want him is unclear, but in this framework, he is the player Orlando would need to send out to make Strus work.
Strus would give the Magic something they badly need: a career 36.9% 3-point shooter who can also bring the ball up the floor and play with a high motor. He could slide into Orlando’s culture and help spark the kind of perimeter offense and drive-and-kick action coach Sean Sweeney is trying to build.
In Other News...
Franz Wagner Is Carrying A Burden The Magic Still Havent Solved
Paolo Bancheros injury has forced Franz Wagner into a far larger offensive role, and the Magic have leaned on him as their primary driver while they try to keep the attack afloat. The workload has been obvious in the way Orlando is reshaping its offense around him, with Wagner asked to initiate, create pressure at the rim and carry possessions in a way that was never going to come without tradeoffs.
The burden has shown up in the areas that usually decide whether a high-usage scorer can sustain it: efficiency and ball security. Wagner has kept attacking, but the Magic are still searching for a cleaner version of this offense, one that eases some of the pressure on him without taking away the aggression that now defines their half-court plan. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Have An Early Problem They Cant Keep Ignoring
Through seven games, the Magic have already run into a problem that can undo a lot of the good they want to build this season: too many empty possessions. Orlando has piled up one of the highest turnover totals per game in the league, and it has shown up in the standings with a 2-5 start. Head coach Sean Sweeney pointed to a mix of causes, from opponents pressing up defensively to the challenges of settling into a new system.
The bigger concern for Orlando is that the issue does not look like a one-night blip. The team has been dealing with a lack of stability at point guard because of injuries, which has made the ball-handling burden tougher to manage and the margin for error even smaller. The encouraging part is that the Magic know exactly what has to improve, and they believe the turnovers can come down as the group gets more comfortable together. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Home Frustration Is Growing As New Offense Hits Early Snags
The home struggles have started to pile up for Orlando, and the latest setback came in a loss to Washington that dropped the Magic to 0-4 at home this season. Afterward, Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner both pointed to the early growing pains of a new offensive system, with the conversation centered on execution, injuries and the kind of adjustments that tend to come with change. There was no panic in their tone, but there was plenty of acknowledgment that the offense is still finding its footing.
Bane and Wagner each stressed patience, trust and the belief that the group will settle in as the season goes on. For a team trying to build consistency while sorting through a new approach, the frustration is obvious, especially when home games are slipping away before the offense can fully click. The message from inside the locker room was clear enough: the process is still in motion, even if the results have not caught up yet. [Read more 🡒]