Magic Starting 5: Trade Involving Damian Lillard?

Damian Lillard has been involved in trade rumors for most of the summer. Could the Orlando Magic help facilitate a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers star?

Jeremy Brener | Sep 13, 2023

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Orlando Magic

1. MAGIC TRADE WITH LILLARD? "All summer, the Portland Trail Blazers have tried to fulfill the wishes of their unhappy star to no avail, as the Miami Heat have been a difficult trade partner for general manager Joe Cronin, who's multiple attempts at an equal trade have been futile.

"In a trade mocked up by Bleacher Report, both teams get their wishes granted, the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets benefiting in the process."

2. MAGIC SIGNS BRANDON WILLIAMS The Orlando Magic is making another addition to the roster just weeks before training camp.

The team announced that it has signed former Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams to an Exhibit 10 deal.

Williams, 23, played 24 games for the Blazers in the 2021-22 season. Last year, he played in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks.

3. BRANDON HUNTER PASSES AWAY Brandon Hunter, a former Orlando Magic and NBA player who was drafted by the Boston Celtics, has died at the age of 42.

"We just spoke last week," Hunter's former Milwaukee Bucks teammate, T.J. Ford, wrote on social media in reaction to Hunter’s passing. "Losing a lot of my friends lately."

After his playing career, Hunter became an agent.

Our thoughts are with Brandon Hunter’s friends and family at this time.

4. MAGIC MOCK DRAFT “After a strong U19 World Cup, where Sarr’s athleticism and defensive playmaking consistently popped, he’s gotten off to a strong start in NBL preseason,” Bleacher Report writes. “He isn’t going to score in volume with the Wildcats, but NBA teams are bound to be drawn to the 18-year-old’s bounce around the rim, shot-blocking, quick hips in pick-and-roll coverage and flashes of three-point range.”

5. WAGNERS WIN GOLD "It's special, special to have our parents here too." Wagner said. "It's just so surreal. It doesn't make sense that we're both on this team and we can enjoy it together. We're gonna have a good night."

Published Sep 13, 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.