John Denton of the Florida Today reports: What's the likelihood the Orlando Magic will make a trade by tonight's trade deadline?

Put it this way: General manager John Gabriel, who is known as one of the NBA's most dynamic dealers, was in Tampa Wednesday night scouting college star Dajuan Wagner instead of working the phones.

It's not that Gabriel will not entertain offers or does not want to improve the smallish Magic. It is just that he can't see trading for what's available.

"Nothing really fits that makes us better," Gabriel said.

In need of rebounding, shot-blocking and interior defenders, Orlando covets Denver's Raef LaFrentz. But the Magic likely are out of the running for the 6-foot-11 power forward. The Nuggets insist that any team that gets LaFrentz also will have to take disgruntled point guard Nick Van Exel. Van Exel's representatives contacted the Magic last week in hopes they could broker a trade for him, but Orlando is leery because of his high salary and reputation as a malcontent.

Orlando has seven first-round picks during the next four years -- stockpiled resources it could use to get involved in a three-team deal that might meet some needs along the front line. Veteran big men such as Kevin Willis, Marc Jackson, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Williams, Chris Gatling and Othella Harrington are possibilities.

The Magic are reluctant to take on long-term deals that would eat into their cap space. But Gabriel said he would not pass up a deal that would help the Magic get better right away.