Magic predicted to part with Jalen Suggs in deal for $194 million former Thunder superstar

The Orlando Magic gave the Boston Celtics a nice run for their money in the first half until the defending champions locked in and outscored the Magic 30-18 in the third quarter in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Orlando at full strength has proven that they can hang with some of the best teams in the league, but they may need to add another piece to reach that next level. CBS Sports' Brad Botkin predicts that the Magic could trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant in the offseason.

"Orlando has an elite defense but can't score," Botkin wrote. "Durant obviously fills that void, and he would make the Magic, already loaded with length, even bigger across the perimeter while keeping the longer Paolo Banchero-Franz Wagner timeline intact.

"Put Durant with Banchero and Wagner and you have at least a conference finals-level team with the hope of more in the short term. Orlando owns all its own picks moving forward plus Denver's first-rounder this season, and they can offer Jalen Suggs or Jonathan Isaac, who would make the money as the young upside piece that Phoenix will covet," Botkin concluded.

Durant played for the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise from 2007 to 2016, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2012 and winning league MVP in 2014.

The Magic would be losing arguably their two best defenders in this deal, but Durant is still a solid defender and could help protect the rim and guard the perimeter with Banchero and Wagner by his side.

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Given the youth of Orlando's team and the hope of building something sustainable for the long-term future, it's highly unlikely they'd trade for Durant. However, if they did, they'd be a force to be reckoned with.

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