In the weeks since the Orlando Magic excitedly selected Jalen Suggs in this year’s NBA Draft, the conversation has steadily flowed towards a more negative way of thinking. Four into two is not a viable mathematical sum for the organization, but at this moment they look to have four long-term pieces for the two backcourt spots on the court.
To add to this, all of the players are under 25 as well, so each could claim to be the guy who the franchise can build around at the guard position. All would have a point. Cole Anthony (21) is the sophomore player who quickly built an identity on this roster around his own chip-on-the-shoulder style of play once the team blew up their core last season.
R.J. Hampton (20) is the exciting youngster who the Denver Nuggets parted with to land Aaron Gordon. Make no mistake, he is putting in the work this offseason as well. Markelle Fultz (23) is the forgotten man at this point. An ACL tear making many forget he was the second-best player in a playoff series for the Magic not long ago. Jalen Suggs (20) is, well, quite possible the one.
The Orlando Magic suddenly have a number of guards that they can build around, but fans needs to realize that this is not a bad situation to be in.
From a larger perspective, the franchise has had abysmal luck in drafting and getting hold of young talent since 2012. In that time they had plenty of players who sometimes got better and who provided some modest depth for their bench. But they’ve never had a number of guys who look like they could be foundational pieces to a future postseason roster.
So to go from having not enough young talent, to suddenly too much, is the best problem that a team like the Magic can have at this point. Even if all four guys aren’t in Orlando three years from now, for example, you can bet that whichever guys were shipped out brought back the calibre of player that will get the Magic to the next level.
Have we as fans forgotten that this is how potential champions build themselves from the ground up? Or did the previous failure of a rebuild harm our collective psyche that much? The whole point of being bad is to collect enough assets to be able to go in different directions and players improve internally, injuries occur and superstars become available.
The plan is not to draft just enough talent to put together a potentially great roster, then watch as injuries, unhappiness, an inability to give out the kind of extensions that players want and deserve and just plain watching guys walk to better situations for them takes place. We are in the offseason of 2021, having this much choice is what you want.
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That is without even taking into consideration that Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke and Wendell Carter Jr. might also themselves form an important part of the future, taking up the frontcourt positions predominantly. Not everybody can get paid either, and it is important to remember that although Fultz signed a team-friendly deal, both he and Isaac got their money last year.
This is important because if we go down one potential route as an example of how all of this could yet unfold and work in the Magic’s favor, the importance of having guys under contract will be clear for all to see. It would not be a wild guess to assume that Suggs will turn out to be the best of the four guards mentioned. He is off to a brilliant start, both on and off the court.
Hampton is doing all that is necessary to be the sidekick to Suggs, while Anthony has the makings of a sixth man who can come off the bench and provide bite and energy. Not to mention actually having a lot of talent as well. Also worth noting is how Anthony and Suggs have a similar mindset, and to have that on the court for 48 minutes would really establish the Magic’s identity.
This again leaves Fultz as the odd one out, which is crazy as before going down he was at that moment the best of the four. But if the Magic decide to go in a different direction, it is fair to say that Fultz has done enough to repair his reputation in Orlando that some other team would pick up the phone and enquire about him.
It could be a Cleveland Cavaliers team that doesn’t seem to know what it wants. Perhaps the New York Knicks in the future might decide he could be of help. Either way, Fultz does not become an unrestricted free agent until 2024 and will be making roughly $16.5 million a season up until that point. For context, even Evan Fournier, who the Magic could have potentially brought back if they hadn’t traded him last year, is making $19.5 million this coming season. Who would you want?
So actually the fact Fultz is under contract and on a team-friendly deal allows the Magic to trade him if necessary. Or else keep him long-term, and get rid of one of the other younger guys before their rookie deals are up and they are due to get paid. So please stop worrying about how this is all going to work. Right now the front office is playing this right, with time on their side.