Magic’s Bold Free Agency Plans Include Gary Trent Jr.

The Orlando Magic want to sign Toronto Raptors small forward Gary Trent Jr. this summer, according to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.

Trent Jr. can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2023-24 player option with the Raptors, a move he’s expected to do.

“The Magic, according to league sources, have their eyes firmly on Toronto free-agent guard Gary Trent Jr., a solid two-way guard who averaged 17.4 points last season and made 38.4% of his career 3-point tries,” Deveney wrote.

“He’d be a good bet as their top priority in free agency,” an East exec told Deveney. “But that’s if they want to go all in.”

Trent Jr. averaged 17.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season for the Raptors while shooting 43.3% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. The 24-year-old made 166 3-pointers.

If Trent Jr. becomes a free agent, the Raptors and Magic could do a sign-and-trade deal. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report predicted that the Magic, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, will swing an aggressive win-now trade this offseason.

“The Orlando Magic remain ridiculously young,” Favale wrote. “Paolo Banchero (21) and Franz Wagner (22), their two most important players, will both be under the age of 22 when next season tips off. Jalen Suggs turns 22 in June. (Related: I hope you didn’t sell any Jalen Suggs stock.) Wendell Carter Jr. is only 24. Cole Anthony is 23. Markelle Fultz just celebrated his 25th birthday. Orlando will add two more lottery picks (No. 6 and No. 11) to this core.

“Slow-playing it is reasonable. So is speeding things up. This team is closer to arrival than the age and experience of its nucleus suggests. The Magic played over .500 basketball for more than half of the season, going 29-24 after starting the year 5-20 before closing out the schedule on a four-game losing streak. Their defense also ranked 11th in points allowed per possession.”

Trent Jr. has career averages of 14.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with the Portland Trail Blazers and Raptors. The Duke product turns 25 next season.