NBA Trade Rumors: Magic's Mo Bamba to Raptors; Gary Trent Jr. to Orlando?

The Orlando Magic could make a big move at the trade deadline this year, and it may involve the Toronto Raptors.

Jeremy Brener | Jan 22, 2023

NBA Trade Rumors: Magic's Mo Bamba to Raptors; Gary Trent Jr. to Orlando? /

The Toronto Raptors hold arguably more cards than any team with less than three weeks going into the NBA Trade Deadline.

With the potential of starting a fire sale north of the border, the Raptors could look to part ways with scoring wing Gary Trent Jr., who could opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Trent Jr., 24, is averaging a career-best 18.6 points per game in his second full season with the Raptors.

He could be the scoring dynamo the Orlando Magic is looking for off the bench or provide a true shooting guard for the starting lineup next to Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.

NBA Analysis Network posed a trade idea which sent Trent Jr. to the Magic in exchange for Mo Bamba, Terrence Ross and a 2025 first-round pick swap.

Bamba and Ross don't appear to be part of the Magic's long-term plans as neither have contract guarantees for next season. The price for a potential future long-term starter isn't a lot, but it comes with the risk that Trent Jr. may walk in free agency to control his own destiny and sign with the team of his choosing.

However, if the risk pays off, it could push Orlando further along the right path towards building a contender.

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Published Jan 22, 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.