Magnolia Stellata - worth digging up?

Acquaintances are redoing their garden and getting rid of this magnolia.

I've read up on a few threads so I do know they can be made into a bonsai, but other than that my knowledge on this species is very limited.

Pictures aren't great but it's a four trunk tree iirc. It's got little to no growth down low so it would need to be able to stand a hard chop and backbud well, otherwise it's a definite no go. It's pretty big though, and otherwise it's going in the trash. Is it worth digging it up?

Pics

I have a Stellata from nursery sick and is possibly my favorite tree in my limited collection. I'm not sure what your friends timeline is, but I might consider an air layer further up the tree. I think those trunks are going to be hard to do anything constructive with.

Just remember the flowers will never get any smaller. If that doesn't bother you, the air layer sounds like the way to go.

Garden centers have them for about 17-20 euros a piece.
I wouldn't air layer.

Do stick around for the dig though, magnolia wood and roots smell amazing.

They pop buds from the trunk all the time in my garden. I am pretty confident you will get good backbudding on it.

I would certainly help dig and see whether you can find a decent way to cut it back and rebuild.