Orlando Magic: 3 important goals for Jalen Suggs this season
By Luke Duffy
Orlando Magic goals for Jalen Suggs: 2. Accept his role
Perhaps a less obvious goal for Suggs, but one that will be very important for his future development. Magic fans have rightly gotten giddy about the prospect of how good he could be for them. After years of misfires in finding a franchise cornerstone through the draft, early returns here are optimistic.
Suggs also won’t be playing for a head coach in Steve Clifford who was tasked with winning games and had an aversion to trusting young guys in key moments. Instead, new head coach Jamahl Mosley seems a lot more comfortable in letting everybody have their chance to show that they can be a long-term answer in Orlando.
Despite all of this working in the favor of Suggs, he is surely going to start on opening night as well, he also needs to accept that this season will not be all about him. The Magic currently have a backcourt that consists of Suggs, Anthony, Fultz, R.J. Hampton and Gary Harris. Fultz will be back from injury sooner rather than later, and Hampton looked to have himself a productive offseason.
The coaching staff then will need to take a look at what combination of players work best together, and how to use combos effectively in order for the team to be a success. All five of these players will not be around when the Magic are making their way back to the postseason. There just isn’t enough money and minutes to go round, without even considering frontcourt depth.
It may also be that Suggs, Anthony and Harris all begin the season as starters before the reintroduction of Fultz changes things around. Anthony also already looks comfortable as the first man off the bench, which will have to be factored in as well. Regardless, this whole year isn’t about Suggs. How he responds will be telling, although you have to think it will be positive.