NBA Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic Reunite Jalen Suggs With College Teammate?
ORLANDO - The upcoming trade deadline could be much for the Orlando Magic compared to the ones in recent memory.
With the Magic currently sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, their hot start to the season could position them to be aggressive in their pursuit to improve the team at the trade deadline. Bleacher Report listed some players Orlando could look at and suggested it should target Washington Wizards guard Corey Kispert in a trade, reuniting him with his college teammate Jalen Suggs. Kispert and Suggs were teammates at Gonzaga in 2020-21.
Kispert, 24, is averaging 11.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for Washington (4-21). He has also shot 38 percent from 3 and is averaging 5.4 attempts from beyond the arc per game. He shot 42.4 percent from three last season and is shooting 38.9 percent for his career.
If the Magic are going to raise its ceiling on offense, improving its shooting from beyond the arc is a must. Orlando is 29th in 3-pointers made (10.2) and 3-pointers (29.8) attempted and is 26th in percentage of 3-pointers made (34.4).
Orlando only leads the Detroit Pistons in 3-pointers made and attempted.
Kispert addresses arguably Orlando's biggest need if it were to acquire him in a trade. And with him only being 24 years old, it wouldn't just be the Magic adding a veteran piece for the second half of the season. Orlando could be adding a young player who can improve one of the best young cores in basketball for the long hail and open up the offense whenever he's on the court.
The Magic will look to snap its two-game skid on Wednesday when it hosts its in-state rival, the Miami Heat at 7 p.m. at the Amway Center.
