The Orlando Magic appear to have taken the first step in elevating their franchise to a genuine championship contender, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that the organization is finalizing a deal to make San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney their next head coach.
The team could look to make an even bigger splash, with Ramona Shelburne telling The Rich Eisen Show that the Magic are a team to watch in a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Especially as teams look for dominant big men who can take over games and propel their teams forward, ala Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio. Or, perhaps more importantly, battle Wembanyama in a championship series.
The Magic would benefit exponentially by trading for Antetokounmpo, as he fits their speedy, drive-and-kick offense and, more importantly, can instantly elevate the defensive side of the ball, an area the team has already emphasized. A former Defensive Player of the Year, he would add a player who can create turnovers while guarding any position on the hardwood.
That the former league MVP and NBA champion remains an elite scorer when healthy only further justifies trading for him. Giannis averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 2025-26, while missing 31 games due to injury.
Healthier and with renewed motivation to add a second NBA title to his resume after a steady decline of the Milwaukee Bucks team that he captured his first one with, the Greek-born player would be an instant upgrade for the Magic, barring Orlando giving up too many pieces in return.
There will be those who claim that Antetokounmpo is on the backside of his career and that mortgaging the team for a short-term run with an aging vet is the wrong decision. Giannis is only 31 years old, though, and the Magic have failed to get over the bump in recent years. He instantly improves them on both sides of the ball and brings championship experience to an organization that has none.
It is a no-brainer deal if the front office can get it done, especially with Sweeney, who has been at the forefront of Wembanyama’s explosion into the NBA’s elite, now at the helm and able to maximize the traits Antetokounmpo would bring to the organization.
