Magic's Jeff Weltman explains trade deadline inactivity

Orlando Magic president says team was aggressive but didn't want to break up core

Feb. 5, 2026 at 8:47pm

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The Orlando Magic had a relatively quiet trade deadline, successfully salary dumping guard Tyus Jones but failing to make any additional moves or upgrades. Magic president Jeff Weltman explained that the team was aggressive in trade talks but didn't feel comfortable breaking up their core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane, who have shown strong on-court chemistry when healthy this season.

Why it matters

The Magic are currently 25-24 and fighting for a playoff spot, but their core has been plagued by injuries this season. Weltman's comments suggest the team believes in their current group and didn't want to disrupt that, even if it meant missing out on potential upgrades at the deadline.

The details

The Magic were able to salary dump Tyus Jones to the Charlotte Hornets, who later re-routed him to the Dallas Mavericks. This helped the Magic get below the luxury tax while freeing up rookie Jase Richardson. However, Weltman said the team didn't feel comfortable breaking up their core of Banchero, Wagner and Bane, even though they had 'substantive talks' about potential deals. The Magic's starting lineup of Jalen Suggs, Bane, Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. has the third-best net rating of any five-man unit in the NBA with over 250 possessions played.

  • The Orlando Magic had a relatively quiet trade deadline on February 6, 2026.

The players

Jeff Weltman

The president of the Orlando Magic.

Paolo Banchero

A key member of the Orlando Magic's core.

Franz Wagner

A key member of the Orlando Magic's core.

Desmond Bane

A key member of the Orlando Magic's core.

Jalen Suggs

A member of the Orlando Magic's starting lineup.

Wendell Carter Jr.

A member of the Orlando Magic's starting lineup.

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What they’re saying

“We're aggressive 365 days a year. We're not afraid to make bold moves, as I think last summer showed (that). But the answer to frustration isn't just to make a move for the sake of making a move.”

— Jeff Weltman, President, Orlando Magic (si.com)

“For us to break up that core, it's going to have to be a significant move. And I will tell you that we had some substantive talks that I thought could've gone somewhere. Obviously, they did not, they didn't materialize.”

— Jeff Weltman, President, Orlando Magic (si.com)

“Most importantly, our starting lineup of Suggs, Bane, Wagner, Banchero and Carter has, still, among five-man units that have played over 250 possessions, the third-best NET Rating of any five-man group in the NBA. That's what predicts playoff success -- our best five against your best five. And I don't even think we were playing that great then.”

— Jeff Weltman, President, Orlando Magic (si.com)

What’s next

The Magic will have a lot of work to do the rest of the season, which could result in some tough decisions to make this summer. We'll see if this core can get healthy before it's too late.

The takeaway

The Orlando Magic's front office believes in their current core group of players and didn't want to disrupt that chemistry by making a major trade at the deadline, even if it meant missing out on potential upgrades. Their focus remains on getting their key players healthy and making a playoff push in the second half of the season.