NBA Trade Idea: Magic Deal Jalen Suggs to Raptors?
ORLANDO - When the Orlando Magic selected Jalen Suggs, No. 5 in the 2021 draft, many people thought he would be a steal, but after selecting point guard Anthony Black No. 6, could it be time for the franchise to trade him?
Back in his 2021 draft class, Suggs looked like a bona fide star in the making following his dominant March Madness run with Gonzaga that featured signature moments such as this game-winning buzzer-beater.
When the Raptors chose to draft Scottie Barnes, many were shocked, as they assumed he would be the perfect replacement for aging All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry.
Barnes would go on to win Rookie of The Year, and Suggs has shot below 39 percent in his NBA career, failing to prove himself as a facilitator, having a near-even ratio of assists and turnovers.
Perhaps this means the end of Suggs' time in a Magic jersey; NBA Analysis Network has suggested a trade that would send Suggs to the Raptors for Thaddeus Young and a 2026 first-round pick.
Young could help Orlando by providing a veteran presence and playing in the paint. Last season the 34-year-old power forward shot 62 percent on his two-point attempts in limited minutes.
While Suggs has proven himself to be a scrappy defender with the Magic, the days of envisioning him as a franchise cornerstone seem to be numbered, and with Black also needing to develop his jump shot, it seems unlikely that the two can coexist and develop simultaneously.
If Suggs goes to Toronto, he'll be looking to revert into the player many thought he'd be when he was projected there in 2021. Still, Young can help Orlando develop a culture, and the first round provides hope for potentially drafting a perimeter shooter in the future.
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