By Brian Schmitz Tracy McGrady expects to be traded soon by the Orlando Magic, league sources said Saturday, despite the club's refusal to confirm a deal is imminent. They also say that it was the Magic who have wanted McGrady to leave the franchise, not that he wanted out.

A deal could be struck within days, but not announced until after the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Reached at his home in south Orlando, McGrady said he could not talk about the situation, "until it's official . . . after the draft.

"I can't let my tricks out of the bag. I don't have any comment."

Sources told the Sentinel on Friday that McGrady informed the Magic he wanted to leave as far back as December, and the club might trade him before the draft.

Neither the Magic nor McGrady is saying that the four-time all-star is staying in Orlando, though. Magic General Manager John Weisbrod was not upset by the reports, and McGrady did not sound surprised.

Weisbrod on Saturday said, "I certainly will not confirm that T-Mac is going to be traded.

"I'm going to continue to say on T-Mac what I have said for the last month, which is that Arn [Tellem, McGrady's agent] and I are in discussions, and we were in discussions late [Friday night] and we were in discussions early [Saturday] morning, and we'll be in discussions [Saturday] afternoon."

It is thought that what Weisbrod and Tellem are discussing -- and have been discussing for perhaps a month -- is how to work a trade that would benefit McGrady and the Magic.

Owner Rich DeVos met with McGrady on Friday, but, apparently, the owner simply wanted to meet with McGrady one last time and part professionally.

Weisbrod even called the meeting "sort of window dressing in the interest of doing things the right way." He said "while it was good the family and Tracy were able to get together, nothing came out of it that in any way affects the process that is going on with Arn."

McGrady had said that he would seek a trade if it didn't appear the Magic would make significant progress after finishing with the league's worst record last season. He has an escape clause in his seven-year deal that allows him to walk away after next season.

While it's open to debate just how the star and the team arrived at a divorce, it is clear that McGrady has been on the trading block.

Donnie Walsh, the Indiana Pacers' chief operating officer, said last week that he spoke with Orlando about trading for McGrady. A general manager in the Western Conference confirmed to the Sentinel that he also has talked with the Magic.

McGrady had said if he were to be traded that the Houston Rockets appeal to him. Other sources link him to the Pacers. But other teams have jumped into the bidding.

The Magic are looking to make a blockbuster deal, acquiring two or three players for McGrady or draft picks. A source said Friday that several other Magic players also could be traded before the draft.