With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching on February 5, the Orlando Magic find themselves in a familiar position - hovering on the edge of contention, but with a roster that still feels like a work in progress. The team’s young core has shown flashes of serious potential, and when healthy, they’ve looked like a playoff-caliber squad. But health has been elusive, and with just a few weeks left before the deadline, the Magic are facing a different kind of pressure - not just to improve the team, but to clean up the books.
Let’s be clear: Orlando’s top priority at the deadline isn’t necessarily about adding talent for a postseason push. It’s about avoiding the luxury tax and, more importantly, avoiding the dreaded repeater tax down the line. The Magic currently sit about $5.6 million above the tax threshold, and with several key players due for significant paydays in the near future, the front office is playing the long game.
That financial reality has shaped the Magic’s approach to the deadline. Instead of being buyers, they’re positioning themselves as sellers - or more accurately, as a team looking to shed salary in the most painless way possible.
And that brings us to Tyus Jones.
The Tyus Jones Situation
Jones was brought in to provide veteran steadiness at the point guard position. On paper, he checked a lot of boxes: low turnover rate, solid floor general, someone who could run the offense without needing the ball too much. But the fit just hasn’t materialized.
Jones is averaging just 3.2 points per game - the lowest mark of his career - and he’s hitting only 28.6% from beyond the arc. That lack of shooting has cramped Orlando’s spacing, and while he’s still doing what he’s always done well - keeping turnovers down and organizing the offense - it hasn’t been enough to justify his spot in the rotation, especially with the emergence of younger, more dynamic options.
Rookie Jase Richardson has been a bright spot in limited minutes, averaging 5.9 points and shooting an impressive 42.9% from the field. He’s brought energy and scoring punch off the bench, and he’s clearly earned a longer look. Add in the recent playmaking flashes from Anthony Black, and it’s easy to see why the Magic might be ready to move on from Jones.
The front office appears to be exploring exactly that. According to reports, Orlando has been shopping Jones around the league, even willing to take back just a second-round pick if it means clearing his salary and dipping under the tax line. It’s not a flashy move, but it’s a pragmatic one - and one that feels increasingly inevitable.
Cap Management Over Playoff Push
This is the less glamorous side of team building. While fans might be hoping for a splashy trade to add shooting or bench depth, the Magic are focused on avoiding a financial penalty that could handcuff them in the seasons to come. With big-money extensions looming for key players, starting the repeater tax clock now would be a costly mistake.
That’s why the Magic’s trade deadline strategy is less about chasing short-term upgrades and more about preserving flexibility. Yes, they could use another shooter.
Yes, another playmaker would help. But those needs are secondary to the goal of cleaning up the cap sheet.
And it’s not like the front office has a clear sense of what this team even is at full strength. Orlando’s opening night starting five has played just 117 minutes together across 11 games. Injuries have robbed the Magic of a consistent rotation, and that’s made it tough to evaluate exactly what the roster needs most.
Franz Wagner just returned from a five-week absence. Moe Wagner is working his way back after missing over a year with a torn ACL.
Jalen Suggs is still sidelined, but reportedly not far from returning. If the team can get healthy in the next couple of weeks, they might finally get a clearer picture of what they have - but that window is small, and the deadline is looming.
Other Trade Chips? Not So Fast
While Jones is the most likely candidate to be moved, he’s not the only name that’s come up. Jonathan Isaac and Goga Bitadze could also be in play, but both come with complications.
Isaac remains a defensive force when healthy, and the Magic still value what he brings on that end. Offensively, though, he’s struggled to find a rhythm, and his injury history makes him a tough sell on the trade market. It’s hard to imagine another team giving up anything substantial for him right now.
Bitadze, meanwhile, has been holding things down as a backup big, especially with Moe Wagner still ramping up. He could draw some interest, but his $3 million salary wouldn’t do much to help the Magic get under the tax unless it’s part of a larger deal - and even then, the return would likely be minimal.
That’s why all signs keep pointing back to Jones. He’s the cleanest path to financial relief, and with younger guards stepping up, his role is already diminishing.
What Comes Next?
If the Magic do move Jones for a second-round pick - or even just for cap relief - they’ll have an open roster spot and some breathing room under the tax. That could open the door for a veteran addition via the buyout market, especially if they want to maintain some experience in the locker room. But more likely, it’ll just allow them to tighten the rotation and give more minutes to the young guys who’ve earned them.
The front office has been patient with this rebuild, and that patience is paying off. The core is young, talented, and still growing. The last thing they want is to jeopardize their future flexibility for a short-term gain that might not move the needle this season.
So don’t expect fireworks from Orlando at the deadline. Expect a calculated, cost-conscious move - one that clears the books and clears the way for the next phase of this team’s development.
And if that move happens to be Tyus Jones heading out the door for a second-round pick? Well, that’s just business.