No Trade For Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs But He Must Earn His Spot

There was, at least, some logic to the rumors. In the wake of Orlando using the NBA draft to select combo guard Anthony Black Jr. and shooting guard Jett Howard with picks No. 6 and 11, what had been a borderline logjammed backcourt became a full-on six-player pileup.

Incumbent starting point guard Markelle Fultz is still on board, as is backup and bench scorer Cole Anthony—both could be challenged for their roles by Black in the near future. Shooting guard Gary Harris returns, too, as does Jalen Suggs. In terms of total production over the past two seasons, Suggs is easily last of the four on the list, averaging 10.8 points on horrendous efficiency numbers: 38.7% shooting from the field, 27.1% shooting from the 3-point line.

With Black and Howard joining the fray seeking minutes, some around the NBA thought the Magic
MAGIC
would have little choice but to part ways with Suggs.

But no one told the Magic. If some around Orlando see Suggs as a bust—he was the fifth pick in the 2021 draft, just behind Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, and just ahead of OKC’s Josh Giddey—do not count the Jeff Weltman-John Hammond brain trust among them.

Teams circled the Magic this summer curious about the availability of Suggs in a trade. Never say never, of course, but Orlando showed very little interest in moving Suggs. There is strong belief in his capability as a defender and his ability—eventually—to become a 3-point marksman. The Magic see Suggs’ ability to play on and off the ball, and his overall speed, as pluses that have not been taped into yet. Perhaps they will eventually trade Suggs. Just not now.

There are questions about whether Suggs will ever be an NBA-level point man—he lacks the strength and decisiveness to be a star-caliber one-guard. But that is not his going concern. Instead, Suggs is focusing on just plain shooting the ball, knowing that with his other skills, if he makes even an average percentage of his 3s, he will go a long way toward securing his long-term place in the NBA.

Asked what he would work on this summer, Suggs did not hesitate.

“I think just continuing the jumpshot,” Suggs said. “After I came back just, the way that opened up a lot of things on the court and allowed me to be in different situations and in different spots. You know, you shoot the 3-ball in this league, you’re good. You’ll always have a spot. Just continuing to get that consistent. You can always get better in that.”

Suggs Improved After Injury

Suggs has had a variety of injuries that have held him back from consistent development in that area—a fractured thumb early in his rookie season, and ankle surgery late in the 2021-22 season. He had a left knee injury that kept him out for all of December last season. He shot 41.9% from the field and 29.4% from the 3-point line before that.

He was not Ray Allen after his return, but he was better in his final 23 games: 11.1 points, 42.7% shooting, 36.6% 3-point shooting. As he said, the more he is able to maintain even average 3-point shooting, the more room he will get to use his speed with the ball.

Suggs has been mentioned as a possible return piece for a trade with the Celtics that would bring in restricted free agent Grant Williams, as some in Orlando thought adding a young piece with NBA Finals experience would help elevate the rest of the roster—Harris, with 26 games, is the only player on the Orlando roster with playoff experience, other than little-used Jonathan Isaac, who has played in five playoff games.

But a sign-and-trade deal has not materialized, and Orlando has appeared content to let its young roster grow—after a 5-20 start, the Magic were a respectable 29-28 to end the season. The team has established a strong future frontcourt, with Franz Wagner at small forward, Paolo Banchero at power forward and Wendell Carter Jr. at center.

The backcourt needs sorting out. Suggs’ place in that mix is not guaranteed, but if he survives the trade-rumor mill and straightens out his shooting, he’s a good bet to earn his spot.