The backcourt situation
The Orlando Magic have an interesting situation in their backcourt as they have many options to choose from. Cole Anthony, who will be entering his third season, has a chance to solidify one of the starting positions if his trajectory in his development goes as predicted. It’s possible that Anthony could become one of the leaders in assists this upcoming season with him being surrounded by players who can score.
Anthony was top 20 in assists per game last season and we can expect those numbers to increase. Cole is a great athlete who can shoot with range, rebounds, and passes well, especially for a young guard. Once he gets stronger and begins to understand the game better he has the potential to be a star player in this league. Once he improves his shot selection and decision making the sky is the limit.
Finally healthy, Markelle Fultz will be ready to go once the season begins. We got a small sample size last season when he played in 18 of the team’s final 21 regular season games as he averaged 13.4 points per game in the final eight games. A great aspect of Fultz’s game is that he is a natural floor general and can run the team on both ends while getting his teammates involved.
An overlooked part of his game is how well he plays defense. He has elite instincts and his commitment on that end of the floor sets him apart. Fultz is a solid defender and Cole has made improvements also as he makes a lot of hustle plays with his energy. On the offensive end, Cole and Fultz should be able to complement one another. Cole could become a volume scorer who excels at pushing the tempo while Fultz is a more polished and traditional guard with good court vision and a feel for the game.
Fultz also possesses great ball handling skills which allow him to get anywhere on the floor with ease. The wild card out of this group is Jalen Suggs. Many would agree that Suggs underperformed during a subpar rookie season but what they have to remember is that he was only a 20-year-old rookie under a first-year head coach on a rebuilding team.
Suggs averaged 11.8 points per game and the potential for him to get better is there but there is also room for him to adjust and improve. His ball handling and decision-making need work and he has to be more consistent if he wants to earn minutes. He has the talent but must be confident as he continues to mature. Suggs should perform a lot better with Fultz on the floor with him as he should provide plenty of opportunities for Suggs to get open looks.