Jalen Suggs could be the piece that saves the Orlando Magic franchise.
The NBA Draft is a long and drawn-out process. That is filled with questions, rumors, and a lot of overanalyses. From the conclusion of the NCAA Championship game to the commencement of the Draft itself, the whole process feels like a lifetime.
For the Orlando Magic, the draft has not been kind to them. Interests in workout warriors, to can’t miss picks, to well-liked players who needed to develop, have all burned the Magic in recent years.
Finally, after years of floundering in the wish-wash of being a lottery team, but not bad enough to have a top pick, the Magic finally received some relief when the Toronto Raptors picked Scottie Barnes with the 4th overall pick. It paved the way for the Magic to select Jalen Suggs with the No. 5 overall pick, a prospect that many believed would be a top 3 or 4 pick through the majority of the pre-draft process.
Jalen Suggs has the star potential that could spark the Magic
Suggs is a great prospect; he was a national sensation this past college season. Cementing his status as a Gozanga legend on that halfcourt bank shot over UCLA at the buzzer.
Although Suggs does have room to improve, he shoots it well from the field at 58 percent. Suggs only shoots 75 percent from the free-throw line and 33 percent from 3. He is a smart defender and a playmaker.
Most importantly a leader, who puts his head down and continues to fight until the buzzer. Many have compared his elite football skills to how he plays basketball. Dominating with contact and force, to not be bullied by any defender.
This past trade deadline, the Magic made the pivot to the full rebuild as they traded away their three best players in Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier. Many wondered how can this team improve after such moves.
Jonathan Issac is a nice player, but coming off an ACL tear. Cole Anthony is another solid young piece but has struggled with his offensive efficiency.
With Suggs and their other lottery pick Franz Wagner, the Magic have an opportunity to begin their rebuild with special players.
Suggs is not a reclmmaation project like Markelle Futz. He is not an athletic big with zero polish like Mo Bamba. Suggs is an elite prospect that can be used to build around. He proved during his freshman season at Gonzaga that he can play in a lead-role or off-ball.
To say Suggs can be a staple of a franchise might be limiting his potential. If the Magic gives him the ability to grow he can be a brick they use to finally build a foundation. This break in the draft might be the day the Magic fans look back on as the day they finally broke free of being mediocre.