How every NBA trade deadline deal affects the Orlando Magic – Early Edition

How every NBA trade deadline deal affects the Orlando Magic

Center Dominoes

The whole league has been waiting on the Toronto Raptors during this trade deadline. Everyone has been trying to figure out what the Raptors will do and what direction they will go.

They have two big-name players on expiring contracts in Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. They have another young player who seems to be itching for more playing time in OG Anunoby. All the while, the Raptors struggled in the standings falling out of the play-in position but still within striking distance.

Would the Toronto Raptors try to retain these players and make another push into the playoffs? Would they sell off the expiring contracts to get equal value back and remain competitive? Or would the Raptors do a major sell-off and start a rebuild?

Some thought that was possible.

Everyone wondered what the Raptors would do.

Late Wednesday night, everyone started to get an answer. Toronto acquired one of the biggest names available at the deadline and seemingly set the whole deadline in motion.

Jakob Poeltl is heading back to Toronto:

A team that is about to rebuild certainly is not going to give up a first-round pick. And several big-name teams were hunting around for Poeltl, including reportedly the Boston Celtics.

This reported trade takes two things off the board:

First, we know the Raptors are not doing a complete rebuild. They may still look to move VanVleet or Trent before the deadline to recoup some value before they hit free agency. But they are likely looking for equal value back. There is no pawning off unused players for them.

That could make it tough for the Orlando Magic to make a deal to acquire VanVleet at the deadline — and now the Phoenix Suns are off the board as a potential team looking for an extra star to boost their team with the deal they just made (see the Kevin Durant slide, I may rearrange slides as the day goes on).

What this also does is eliminate a big domino in the center sweepstakes. Teams that missed out on Jakob Poeltl will now turn to their backup options which include Mo Bamba. Getting this deal done so early may well open the doors for a Bamba deal to happen later on in the day.

The whole market waits on the stars to fall before it gets moving. Toronto making this deal — along with the Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant questions getting solved — helps clarify the issue.