Being a fan of a rebuilding team in the NBA is a funny thing. 

The goal is to be bad. For a while. Typically, rebuilding teams seek to maximize their lottery odds. With that said, once they’ve got a franchise player, the calculus changes. 

The Orlando Magic have a franchise player. They may even have two. Paolo Banchero looks destined for superstardom, and Franz Wagner may get there, too. 

It’s showing in their record. The Magic are still a losing team, but they’re not at the very bottom of the standings.

If they wanted to take a step forward, they could justify it. 

Here’s a deal that has them doing so by landing Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors.