NBA Trade Rumors: Suns, Magic trying to pry Fred VanVleet away from Raptors
NBA Trade Rumors: The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic are trying to pry Fred VanVleet away from the Toronto Raptors.
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline, which is less than a month away, there are many teams around the league that are keeping a close eye on the Toronto Raptors. They are a team that has underperformed this season and the thinking around the team is that perhaps it could open the door for a big move to shake up the roster at the deadline.
At least thus far, we don’t really know how the Raptors are going to approach the deadline. But it’s safe to say that the next few weeks can go a long way in determining the immediate future of the franchise.
As teams begin to prepare for the Raptors to make a big move, there are two teams that are reportedly trying to pry Fred VanVleet away from Toronto. According to a recent report, the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns are two teams that have expressed interest in signing VanVleet in free agency during the offseason. You’d have to imagine, if he becomes available ahead of the trade deadline, that interest would be there in VanVleet as well.
VanVleet can opt out of his current contract with the Raptors and test free agency during the offseason, which many expect him to do. VanVleet is averaging 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game this season but has massively struggled with his overall shooting efficiency.
Would the Toronto Raptors make a big splash at the NBA Trade Deadline?
It’s difficult to predict whether the Raptors would make a big move at the trade deadline. Sure, they have underwhelmed so far this season. But this is a core that is not over the hill per se and is just a few years removed from winning a championship (sans Kawhi Leonard).
The thinking with this roster is that you add a superstar and they’re primed to win another chip. I’m not sure that thinking has changed, even with how much the team has struggled to start the season.
On the surface, it would be quite surprising if the Raptors made a big move such as moving a core player like VanVleet. Then, on the other hand, if the whispers are that he is indeed going to leave during the offseason, I’m not sure what other options the team has then to shop him over the next few weeks.
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The Raptors are certainly a team to keep an eye on leading to the NBA Trade Deadline. Will they end up making a big move?