Magic Representative 'Scouting' Raptors All-Star Fred VanVleet? Trade Coming?

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet could be a hot name at the deadline. Is the Orlando Magic doing extra homework on the former All-Star?

Jeremy Brener | Jan 19, 2023

Magic Representative 'Scouting' Raptors All-Star Fred VanVleet? Trade Coming? /

The Orlando Magic continue to make some noise in the player movement rumor mill.

According to Sportsnet.ca, a member of the Magic basketball operations staff was in attendance for the Milwaukee Bucks game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

The front office staff member's rumored attendance came on the same day where The Athletic reported that the Magic was interested in signing Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet.

"Is he being traded to Orlando? No," Sportsnet writes. "The Magic have the money to sign him in free agency if they want to, although Orlando did have one of its basketball operations staff members on hand in Milwaukee."

If the Magic staffer was in attendance for VanVleet specifically, they certainly left the game impressed. VanVleet scored 39 points while grabbing nine rebounds and seven assists in the 130-122 loss.

VanVleet, 28, could be a target for the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 9, especially if the Raptors continue their struggles. But many teams could pass on him in hopes of acquiring him in free agency this summer without dealing any key pieces or picks from their own roster. He has a player option that he could opt out of in hopes of signing a bigger contract long-term.

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Published Jan 19, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.