The Toronto Raptors will miss Fred VanVleet. He’s been on the team for the entirety of his NBA career. Now, he’ll be suiting up for the Houston Rockets.
The Raptors will likely look to replace him. At the moment, the presumptive starting point guard in Toronto is Dennis Schroeder. That doesn’t feel like a full-time solution. With that said, it’s hard to pinpoint what type of replacement the Raptors will look for. If they plan on staying competitive, they could look for a veteran.
On the other hand, the Raptors could start looking to the future. They’re rumoured to be shopping Pascal Siakam. If they’re rebuilding, they could look for a younger floor general. How about Markelle Fultz of the Orlando Magic?
The Trade Proposal
Orlando Magic Receive: G/F Gary Trent Jr.
Toronto Raptors Receive: G Markelle Fultz
In fact, the Raptors face a dilemma that a lot of teams find themselves in. Should they focus on the present, or turn to the future? It’s a question that plagues plenty of NBA teams. The Orlando Magic are no exception.
The future is certainly bright in Orlando. Paolo Banchero looks like a franchise-caliber player. Franz Wagner isn’t far off the mark himself. This team is stacked with quality pieces moving forward. In 2022-23, that talent was on full display. The Magic looked like a team on the rise.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic & Toronto Raptors Updates
Is it time for them to make win-now moves? We’re not sure. The Magic are still young – they could prefer to let their cornerstones do the heavy lifting. On the other hand, they could also start shaping their roster around Banchero and Wagner. Does acquiring Trent Jr. help them do that?
Why The Orlando Magic Do The Deal
Some Magic fans may not like this deal. The logic behind trading Fultz is obvious. This team is stacked with young guards, and they’ve got a logjam. So: why do we have them trading for another guard?
Well, all guards are not the same. The Magic don’t necessarily have a guard problem. They’ve got a surplus of playmaking,.and a lack of shooting. The Magic need more off-ball players. Trent Jr. solves that issue. He’s a strong 3-and-D guard who can spend time at the 3 in smaller line-ups.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic & Toronto Raptors Updates
Meanwhile, he’s actually a year younger than Fultz. He’s not as dynamic of an offensive player, but he’ll improve the fit of this roster while still helping the Magic keep their focus on the future. Should the Raptors give up such a useful player?
Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
We already gave away the ending here. The Raptors do this deal to replace Fred VanVleet. They’re pursuing a younger point guard because they’re rebuilding. That all makes perfect sense.
Assuming, that is, that the Raptors are rebuilding. Recently, rumors have suggested that they may prefer to keep Siakam. If so, forget about this one. It won’t make any sense for Toronto. If they plan on staying competitive, they won’t want to waste a season figuring out the fit between Fultz and Scottie Barnes.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic & Toronto Raptors Updates
Let’s assume that Toronto is moving Siakam. Now, this makes sense. The Raptors would look to surround Barnes and Fultz with spacing and defense. In fact, with OG Anunoby and Gradey Dick on the roster, they’d already have a head start – no matter how badly they miss VanVleet.
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