The Orlando Magic are not expected to be major players before the NBA trade deadline, but desperation from an in-conference rival might push them in a different direction.

The Magic are 3-5. On top of that, Orlando is without Paolo Banchero for at least four weeks with an ankle injury. However, Orlando could be buyers before a playoff push.

If the Milwaukee Bucks are serious about tearing down their core and rebuilding, the Magic, like everyone, will show some interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he wouldn’t be a good fit next to Banchero and Franz Wagner. Instead, Orlando should set their sights on Brook Lopez, the floor-spacing big.

Lopez is one of the better defenders in the league and could be a more reliable upgrade over Jonathan Isaac. Over the last nine seasons, Lopez has shot a solid 35.1% from 3-point range, spacing the floor for Orlando’s ball-dominant forwards.

Currently, Orlando takes the sixth-most 3s in the NBA but makes only 30.4% of them, good for the second-worst in the league. By adding “Splash Mountain,” Orlando can retain their defensive identity and improve on offense.

By sending out Isaac, Caleb Houstan and Trevelin Queen, the Magic could take back Lopez, Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp, who is on the trade block anyway. The deal would help propel a possible Bucks’ rebuild and would give Orlando some added reliability, moving on from the oft-injured Isaac and replacing him with Lopez, who has played in 70 games in every one of the last 11 seasons aside from 2021-22.

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