The Orlando Magic, the Charlotte Hornets and the Chicago Bulls have executed a three-team trade that will bring two new faces to Central Florida.
On July 7, the Magic received center Timofey Mozgov from the Hornets and point guard Jerian Grant from the Bulls. In return, Orlando relinquish center Bismack Biyombo, a second-round pick in 2019 and a second-round pick in 2020.
“We’re excited to acquire both players, and, obviously, we’ve been considering how to best address our point guard position,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said, according to a report by NBA.com’s John Denton. “This trade fell into place for us. I think it’s a good move for all three teams.”
The Magic benefit most from adding Grant, as he adds depth to the team’s 1s, a position that Orlando only has one of: 10-year veteran D.J. Augustin. Grant averaged almost 8.4 points per game, 4.6 assists per game and 2.3 rebounds per game in 74 appearances, 26 starts and 22.8 minutes per game for the Bulls last season.
His season-high last season was 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, in 30 minutes in a 100-93 loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 26, 2017. That game was one of Grant’s three 20-point performances in 2017-18.
“He’s still young, and he’s a growing player, and hopefully he can thrive with us,” Weltman said. “He’s going to get an opportunity. He’s a good defender. He’s got size, and he knows how to play.”
As for Biyombo, his time in Orlando comes to an end after two seasons in which the 25-year-old missed only one game. The 2011 draftee started 52 of his 163 appearances, averaging 20.2 minutes per game, 5.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game.
Biyombo’s departure frees up a significant chunk of minutes in the front court for the sixth-overall pick in the 2018 National Basketball Association Draft, center Mohamed Bamba. Mozgov, who averaged a career-high 10.6 points per game in 46 games as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting 5 in the 2014-15 season, could vie for those minutes, too.
The Magic are currently 2-1 in summer-league play in Las Vegas, Nevada, having beaten the Brooklyn Nets 86-80 on July 6 and the Memphis Grizzlies 86-56 on July 8. Orlando lost its first game on July 9 in a 71-53 defeat to first-overall pick Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns.
For more on the Magic, as they continue offseason preparations for the 2018-19 season, follow Anthony Abruzzo on Twitter at @abruzzo_ant.
