Bold predictions are best packaged as wishful-thinking agendas. Welcome to mine.

The Orlando Magic have so far punted on making a bigger move while their core players remain on cheapo deals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a nice addition—one of the summer’s more consequential transactions. But he doubles down on Orlando’s strengths more than he injects the requisite off-the-dribble shot-making and initiation into the offensive pecking order.

Right now, the Magic’s makeup profiles as a bet on Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs more than anyone else. The latter is among my top Most Improved Player candidates, so I understand the logic. I just don’t think it’s going to be enough. Orlando is entering the phase of its trajectory in which it’s trying to crack the contender clique. But it will need a higher-end weapon, particularly inside the half-court.

Fortunately for the Magic, they have the draft equity, intriguing enough prospects, matching-salary tools and flexibility underneath the tax aprons to swing big on the trade market. Their default is usually continuity—or at least not monster moves. They are going to buck that trend this year.

More specifically, I am keeping an eye on Anfernee Simons (a Florida native) and LaMelo Ball.

Simons is the less spicy of the two. His exit from the Portland Trail Blazers seems fait accompli if they ever plan on Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe being healthy at the same time. His brand of shot-making is exactly what Orlando needs.

Nothing out there suggests Ball is immediately available, but he is on his second contract and has a checkered health bill from seasons past.

With the Charlotte Hornets most likely in the early stages of their rebuild, the 23-year-old projects as less untouchable than we might think. And the Magic are good enough, right now, to value him like a finishing-piece cornerstone if they’re not peeved by the state of his ankles.