Magic “Swinging for the Fences”
Orlando is reportedly one of several teams going after star power forward Blake Griffin. (Getty)
Rob Hennigan appears intent on making a splash in the next week. In addition to the rumored talks with Atlanta, the Magic are reportedly engaging with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler:
You can add the Magic to the list of teams trying to get the Clippers to engage on a trade… they are swinging for the fences
The assumption there is that the Magic are inquiring about Blake Griffin, whose name has been frequently coming up in trade talk.
In order to get a player of Griffin’s stature, the Magic would likely have to give up two players from their stable of young studs–Oladipo, Mario Hezonja, Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon–as well as draft picks. It’s undoubtedly a lot to give up.
Still, Griffin was making his case as the league’s best power forward before getting injured this season, and he doesn’t become a free agent until 2018. Under-30 superstars with two-plus years left on their contract aren’t the kind of players who are often available, and this would certainly qualify as “swinging for the fence” for Hennigan and the Magic.