It's "a safe bet" the Orlando Magic will deal reserve center Daniel Orton before the March 15th NBA trading deadline, reports Steve Kyler of HOOPSWORLD, if they can find a team willing to give up a draft pick for the 21-year-old rookie. As Kyler notes, such a trade "opens up a roster spot" to facilitate another deal with a different team. Orton "desperately wants a chance to play," Kyler says, and "he serves no role in Orlando."
The Magic selected Orton with the 29th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, but he did not play in the subsequent season due to a nagging injury in his left knee. He did make two appearances with the NBA D-League's New Mexico Thunderbids, averaging 10 points and eight rebounds before tweaking his knee.
In his lone season with the Kentucky Wildcats, the Oklahoma City native averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, serving as DeMarcus Cousins' backup.
Orton has played in three games for the Magic in 2011/12, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound in seven minutes.
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