Report: Orlando Magic Open to Making a Major Trade

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic front-office (which is also looking to trim its payroll) would pull the trigger on a deal for anyone on the roster, with Dwight Howard being the lone exception: “The Magic still are open to making a deal for either Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul — they’re partial to Paul — and would part with pieces not named Dwight Howard. Even Gilbert Arenas would be in the discussion if he wasn’t owed gadzillions. Maybe Monta Ellis. The Magic are no fools: They want to win a title and they know they need either a big-time scorer or playmaker to get past the Celtics or Heat, and then the Lakers. They would even be willing to take a step back this season to restock if it meant they could land either Anthony or Paul. Vince Carter and all their youngish, proven pieces are available in some sort of blockbuster package: Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, Brandon Bass, J.J. Redick and Ryan Anderson. When I asked somebody in the organization about such a possibility, that somebody never shook off my sign, never flinched.”