{"id":54936,"date":"2023-09-23T08:46:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T12:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=54936"},"modified":"2023-09-23T08:46:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T12:46:56","slug":"nba-trade-rumors-orlando-magic-expected-to-move-cole-anthony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/09\/23\/nba-trade-rumors-orlando-magic-expected-to-move-cole-anthony\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic Expected to Move Cole Anthony"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Orlando Magic have accumulated a significant amount of young talent over the years, and they are now faced with a logjam at the guard spots. With <\/span>Markelle Fultz<\/b><\/a> appearing ready to thrive as the lead facilitator, <\/span>Jalen Suggs<\/b><\/a> continuing to develop and <\/span>Anthony Black<\/b><\/a> entering the rotation as a rookie, <\/span>the Magic may be ready to trade<\/span><\/a> Cole Anthony<\/b><\/a>. Anthony has developed into a solid sixth man for Orlando, but will enter restricted free agency next summer. As one agent told Bleacher Report\u2019s Eric Pincus:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I think they move Anthony, maybe even before the season. But I don’t think they extend him.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With the Magic aiming to move on from Anthony, there are several teams who could use his services.<\/span><\/p>\n

NBA Trade Rumors: Magic Expected to Move Cole Anthony<\/b><\/h2>\n

Background<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drafted 15th overall by Orlando in 2020, Anthony\u2014the son of ex-NBA guard <\/span>Greg Anthony<\/b><\/a>\u2014had a solid rookie season. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game on .397\/.337\/.832 splits. He proceeded to break out as a sophomore, starting all 65 games he played and averaging 16.3 points and 5.7 assists. Last season saw Anthony go back to the bench with the re-emergence of Fultz. However, he continued to make an impact, putting up 13 points and nearly four assists per game while shooting 45% from the field and 36% from deep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Potential Destinations for Cole Anthony<\/b><\/h3>\n

Though there is no list of interested suitors for Anthony yet, the 23-year-old could garner interest from several teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

LA Clippers<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Clippers are searching for an optimal backup to <\/span>Russell Westbrook<\/b><\/a>. After the failed three-team deal that would have sent <\/span>Malcolm Brogdon<\/b><\/a>, it makes sense for them to pivot to Anthony. Anthony would have to adjust his game a bit, but he brings a wealth of talent to a larger stage. He\u2019s a solid shooter and facilitator who is ready for a role on a contender, and the Clippers wouldn\u2019t have to give up much to match his $5 million salary. His addition could also move <\/span>Terance Mann<\/b><\/a> back to his natural role as a two-guard\/wing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boston Celtics<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Celtics are in a similar predicament, having no solid backup options after trading away <\/span>Marcus Smart<\/b><\/a>. Brogdon remains the ideal candidate. However, his injury history and <\/span>recent animosity towards the organization<\/span><\/a> put him in jeopardy to start the season. <\/span>Derrick White<\/b><\/a> is another option, but he performed well in the 70 games he started last season (12.9 PPG and 4.8 APG on 46% FG). Trading for Anthony would give the Celtics more stability in the facilitator spot. He’d be able to thrive as a backup or, potentially, a starter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Utah Jazz<\/b><\/h4>\n

Finally, the Utah Jazz could be a name to watch if suitors emerge for the 23-year-old Anthony. Sports Illustrated\u2019s Jared Koch outlined several reasons why Utah would benefit through the acquisition of Anthony:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Many have questioned how talented the team\u2019s guard play is, along with a concern for a lack of playmaking on the roster. Anthony could easily plug in as a key reserve or even a starter to mend those holes.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Though <\/span>Collin Sexton<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Jordan Clarkson<\/b><\/a> could be tasked with starting facilitator roles, adding Anthony would be a plus for a rebuilding Jazz squad looking to add pieces for their future. Though he may not be able to supplant <\/span>Kris Dunn<\/b><\/a>, who performed well as Utah\u2019s backup last season, he\u2019s at least valuable as a combo guard who can cover Utah\u2019s shortcomings. At 23 with experience as a starter and reserve, Anthony makes for an ideal candidate, even if he has to join another rebuilding roster.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Orlando Magic appear ready to to provide more opportunities to Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black. That means parting ways with a Anthony, who is ready for a better fit elsewhere. And though the market for Anthony is unknown right now, there are a handful of teams that may be in the running for him\u2014ones that could use him well and give him a prominent role.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Orlando Magic have accumulated a significant amount of young talent over the years, and they are now faced with a logjam at the guard spots. With Markelle Fultz appearing ready to thrive as the lead facilitator, Jalen Suggs continuing to develop and Anthony Black entering the rotation as a rookie, the Magic may be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":54941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,27,62,17,4721,24],"tags":[4755,2108,1594,1090,2609,3259,321,458,609,428,668,53],"class_list":["post-54936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-clippers","category-nba","category-magic","category-trade-rumors","category-jazz","tag-anthony-black","tag-cole-anthony","tag-collin-sexton","tag-derrick-white","tag-greg-anthony","tag-jalen-suggs","tag-jordan-clarkson","tag-kris-dunn","tag-malcolm-brogdon","tag-marcus-smart","tag-markelle-fultz","tag-russell-westbrook"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54936\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}