5 free agents for the Orlando Magic to keep an eye on
5 free agents for the Orlando Magic to keep an eye on
Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/16/2023.
There is no avoiding the biggest fish in the room. There has been enough smoke billowing out of rumors connecting Fred VanVleet to the Orlando Magic, that it deserves some discussion and consideration.
VanVleet is a former All-Star who is capable of playing at a star level still. Just look at how he controlled the game in Tuesday’s Toronto Raptors win over the Orlando Magic. He had 16 assists and was just dealing.
If there is a reason that VanVleet makes sense to the Magic it is this flexibility in his role.
Some nights, VanVleet is the team’s leading scorer, someone who can take and make a bunch of threes and shoot his team into games. On other nights, he sets the table for others. With Pascal Siakam and other stars on the team, Fred VanVleet can fit in as a floor spacer and table setter.
Regardless of anything else, VanVleet always ranks well defensively in a lot of metrics — although his size remains a detriment even in that Raptors’ ecosystem. He is fourth in the league in deflections in the league at 3.6 per game, according to NBA.com’s hustle stats.
VanVleet should not be dismissed as an option. He would fit in right with the Magic, giving them a strong 3-point threat and someone who can easily sit back and set the table for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and even play alongside the Magic’s guards in Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony.
It would be a major addition and one that would tip the team over the top. He is a floor raiser at the very least. And not such a crazy idea.
The pause a lot of fans have with VanVleet is his age — this is his age 28 season and he turns 29 at the end of February — and his projected salary range. It is looking like he is seeking a salary near $30 million per year. That is a lot to commit to him, especially on a four-year deal. Especially so for a young team on the rise.
Still, as much as the debate among fans hits about whether VanVleet is the right call for Orlando. It does make some sense to add him. And he would help this team significantly.