According to ESPN NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Orlando Magic are looking to move Andrew Nicholson before next Thursday’s trade deadline.
Word is that the Magic, given their surplus of bigs, are working with Nicholson's agent Mark Bartelstein to try to find him new home
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 12, 2015
Nicholson was drafted by the Magic with the 19th overall pick in 2012. Since then Nicholson has played in 169 games averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 2.5 seasons with the Magic.
Nicholson is on the books for $1.5 million for this year and almost $2.4 million next year with a team-option at the end of the 2016 season.
Though Nicholson has found himself buried in the rotation on a team stockpiled with big-men, he still holds value.
Nicholson showed promise on the offensive end with glimpses of a promising inside-and-out game. Though he is undersized at the power forward position at 6-9, his craftiness and great footwork in the paint combined with his 7-4 wingspan gives him the advantage over other big men. Over his 2.5 seasons Nicholson has refined his mid-range jump shot and even added a reliable 3-point shot where he is shooting 45.5%.
Nicholson could prove to be a valuable rotation player for a team lacking frontcourt scoring.
That being said, even though Nicholson has shown microscopic glimpses of what he could become as an NBA player, because of his overall production it is going to be tough for the Magic to get anything more than late first-round draft picks, young talent or cash considerations.
The hottest teams in trade deadline discussions are the Timberwolves, Nets, Raptors, Clippers and Knicks. So don’t be surprised to see Nicholson go to one of those five teams.
