NBA Draft: Magic 'Exploring Trade Opportunities' for Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony?
The Orlando Magic comes into tonight's NBA Draft with the Nos. 6 & 11 picks, giving the team a lot of power.
And if it decides to select a guard with one of those two selections, Orlando could leave one of Jalen Suggs or Cole Anthony on the trading block.
“Orlando has left various personnel with the impression that drafting a guard like Ausar Thompson or Anthony Black would lead the Magic to exploring trade opportunities for one of Suggs or Anthony,” Yahoo Sports writes.
Currently, Orlando's point guard rotations consists of Suggs, Anthony and Markelle Fultz - all former first-round picks - so adding another main ball-handler wouldn't leave enough minutes to go around.
Thompson has been heavily linked to the Magic in recent weeks due to his athleticism and ability to run an offense at 6-7, drawing comparisons to four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala by ESPN. While Black, a one-and-done star at the University of Arkansas, also falls under the prototype "big guard" build with his two-way ability.
However, for Orlando to draft either of them and explore trade options for its current backcourt comes with risks. At 22 and 23, Suggs and Anthony both played key roles in the Magic's surge in the second half of last season. After beginning his career as a starter, Anthony thrived in a sixth-man role last season - posting career-highs in all three shooting categories and averaging 13 points per game on year.
The NBA Draft is held tonight at 8 p.m. from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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