NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic willing to talk “serious money” with Fred VanVleet in upcoming summer

The NBA season is cruising along, but the Orlando Magic seem to already be turning their attention to upgrading their team, with Fred VanVleet identified as a potential target.

The 6-foot-1 guard has played each of his seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, but he could become a free agent at the end of the season if he declines his player option. The expectation around the NBA is that this will be the case, and the Magic appear to be at the top of the list of suitors looking to add VanVleet.

“That’s what I just heard about Orlando with Fred, that come summer, they would be willing to talk some serious money,” NBA insider Jake Fischer said.

Fred VanVleet being pushed out of Toronto?

It has been a messy season so far for VanVleet and the Raptors. They hold a record of 28-31 and sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. It has been a downhill slide for the organization since winning the NBA championship in 2019, as they hold a combined record of just 103-110 since.

The appeal of a rebuild has grown, and the 28-year-old VanVleet may not align with the timeline. The Wichita State product is averaging 19.7 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 assists while shooting 34.4% on 3-point attempts. While these are solid numbers, each is a step back from last season's production.

To further indicate his intentions of leaving, news broke last week of VanVleet's decision to sign Klutch Sports as his agency representative. Led by Rich Paul, the agency has a star-studded client list of NBA players, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Ben Simmons, and is familiar with tough negotiation tactics.

VanVleet holds a player option for next year valued at $22.8 million. He was reported to have turned down a four-year, $114 million extension from Toronto earlier this season and that he values himself as commanding between $30-35 million on the market.

If the Magic are willing to give VanVleet a payday, he could provide an interesting new element to their roster. Orlando (24-35) is tied with the Houston Rockets for the NBA's second-youngest roster. While the Magic have been in a rebuilding process for the past few years, some of their young talents are beginning to turn a corner in their development.

Adding VanVleet would speed up the process as the team would benefit from his long-range shooting and additional ball handling. His smaller frame would not be a concern next to the supersized Magic lineup, and the team could use the veteran's presence in the locker room.

The NBA season is set to return from the All-Star break on Thursday, and teams will shift their focus back to the on-court product. There are sure to be plenty more rumors and news as the season winds down, and VanVleet's status will be one to continue to monitor.