The Jalen Suggs Thread

[eyriq]

To me, I'd start Suggs and let him play more meaningful minutes on the court to develop his game. He shot 2 for 4 from 3s tonight against 76ers and his defense is scary.

To me, Magic is in an odd situation at our backcourts. Some said we needed to trade Harris yet Harris is top 5 in effective shooting percentage right now. Some said we needed to trade Fultz. Yet Fultz was 7 for 11 from the floor tonight. Some said we do not need Cole, yet Cole's game impacts winning directly. So who to give up?

To me, we need to start Suggs and let him play more to develop. Suggs is the one who can impact winning by himself and he needs more PT plus he has the highest ceiling among all Guards.

If Magic wants to turn the corner and become a deep playoff team, we need to start changing direction and invest in the most impactful player NOW

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

[MasterGMer]

To me, I'd start Suggs and let him play more meaningful minutes on the court to develop his game. He shot 2 for 4 from 3s tonight against 76ers and his defense is scary.

To me, Magic is in an odd situation at our backcourts. Some said we needed to trade Harris yet Harris is top 5 in effective shooting percentage right now. Some said we needed to trade Fultz. Yet Fultz was 7 for 11 from the floor tonight. Some said we do not need Cole, yet Cole's game impacts winning directly. So who to give up?

To me, we need to start Suggs and let him play more to develop. Suggs is the one who can impact winning by himself and he needs more PT plus he has the highest ceiling among all Guards.

If Magic wants to turn the corner and become a deep playoff team, we need to start changing direction and invest in the most impactful player NOW

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

That is what I will do also.

Also add to the situation, Fred Vanfleet had another 30 point game tonight with a triple double. Do we blow it up to acquire FVV?

Plus FVV can play either guard spot.

I was in the camp of against adding him. But we need to add shooting and veteran piece for our young squad.

It is becoming a whole lot more interesting before the trade deadline. Hope Magic happens

[Knightro]

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

If I had to keep one, it would certainly be Suggs. He's the youngest. He's the furthest away from free agency. He clearly has the most upside defensively.

[fendilim]

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

If I had to keep one, it would certainly be Suggs. He's the youngest. He's the furthest away from free agency. He clearly has the most upside defensively.

me too.

Fultz is really good, but his lack of shooting, and his lack of willingness to shoot the 3, is worse than Suggs missing a wide open 3 imo.

Of the 3, Suggs is the only guy who is elite defensively.

Cole is a liability on defense and needs the ball to be effective on offense.

Fultz is solid on both ends, but needs the ball to be effective on offense.

Suggs is elite on defense and a terrible shooter.

I’d rather take someone who can contribute something elite, even if his shooting is abysmal, there is hope. His mid range has improved and his finishing around the basket has also improved. It sucks we have to choose between three bad players tbh. But if I had to choose, it would be Suggs.

Of the 3, Suggs is the perfect fit with Franz and Banchero, IMO.

[drsd]

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

I would like Anthony to be traded whilst his value is high. Then as to Fultz vs. Suggs, the Magic cannot keep both, so one needs to be traded additionally.

That is: I think only one of the Magic's three PGs should be retained. Personally for me, it's Fultz. But I can understand if management went with Suggs.

..

[drsd]

Is Suggs available for trade?

What do Magic fans think of D’Angelo Russell for Suggs & Isaac?

DLo is expiring $30 million and is current averaging 18-6-3. He’s 26 years old and one time all star.

Would his expiring money give the Magic a max cap space for a free agent to join your core of Pablo and Franz?

Wolves problem is that they can’t afford to pay him since we are gonna have to max Anthony Edwards and extend Jaden McDaniels near Mikal Bridges salary.

Orlando is not trading Suggs and Isaac for an expiring contract. And it is my view that the last thing the Magic needs anyhow is another PG. Orlando needs a new SG.


EDIT: I will add that with G-Harris, Ross, and Bamba expiring, Orlando has plenty of cap space already for the off-season.

..

[jonbob17]

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

If I had to keep one, it would certainly be Suggs. He's the youngest. He's the furthest away from free agency. He clearly has the most upside defensively.

me too.

Fultz is really good, but his lack of shooting, and his lack of willingness to shoot the 3, is worse than Suggs missing a wide open 3 imo.

Of the 3, Suggs is the only guy who is elite defensively.

Cole is a liability on defense and needs the ball to be effective on offense.

Fultz is solid on both ends, but needs the ball to be effective on offense.

Suggs is elite on defense and a terrible shooter.

I’d rather take someone who can contribute something elite, even if his shooting is abysmal, there is hope. His mid range has improved and his finishing around the basket has also improved. It sucks we have to choose between three bad players tbh. But if I had to choose, it would be Suggs.

Of the 3, Suggs is the perfect fit with Franz and Banchero, IMO.

Suggs is number one on the list for potential, so he's clearly keeper 1 in my eyes...but he also has the most value.

Cole is having his best year by a good bit. His 2pt FG% is at 49% vs 43 and 42 in prior seasons. He is also trying really hard on defense, and while he gets cooked once and a while, his defense is much improved.

MF just passes the eye test. He looks like a really good PG (offensively) and has the length where he should be a good defender, he's not, but.. 33.3% from 3 thats great, but he's got let them loose,he's got to take 3+ a game. 1 attempt a game isn't going to get players to guard him.

The problem as I see it is Cole and MF don't have any value, we'd be giving them away. Both are NBA rotation guys, but maybe not on a good team.

I think we are better off keeping them and see what the draft gives us and if we do anything in FA...At the same time getting rid of one or both may help our draft pick this season...we saw how bad we were early in the year with out functional guard play.
I would definitely choose the latter but I would want the FO to commit to playing for draft pick..minutes limitations and such.

[jezzerinho]

Cole has value.

But in either event, why do we need to get value for them? We need to consolidate minutes into fewer players and we need a better point guard.

If we're prepared to pay Fultz and Isaac a fortune to do nothing, Mosgov to dish out high fives, to sell second round picks for change, to not move several players when their value was highest... what's so bad about taking a hit on a trade to move out inefficient players who dont fit and who slow down our progress?

[Knightro]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

[VFX]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

This confirms the eye test as well. He’s been a menace defensively in the last few games. It looks like he’s even gotten better somehow.

[basketballRob]

To me, I'd start Suggs and let him play more meaningful minutes on the court to develop his game. He shot 2 for 4 from 3s tonight against 76ers and his defense is scary.

To me, Magic is in an odd situation at our backcourts. Some said we needed to trade Harris yet Harris is top 5 in effective shooting percentage right now. Some said we needed to trade Fultz. Yet Fultz was 7 for 11 from the floor tonight. Some said we do not need Cole, yet Cole's game impacts winning directly. So who to give up?

To me, we need to start Suggs and let him play more to develop. Suggs is the one who can impact winning by himself and he needs more PT plus he has the highest ceiling among all Guards.

If Magic wants to turn the corner and become a deep playoff team, we need to start changing direction and invest in the most impactful player NOW

I think they've slowly been ramping his minutes up.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Ralof]

Trade him plus one of those two lottery picks for a proper starter point guard.

choose between anthony and fultz as backup PG-6th man role.

we need someone who can manipulate rhythm of the game,give us spot-up shot,handle the ball under pressure and defend decently,a bit of everything,a complete point guard.

[ibraheim718]

And that's the role he played at Gonzaga, with Andrew Nembhard taking on more of the lead guard role. I think what also went underrated about Suggs is he was probably the 4th most important player on that Zags team, behind Timme, Kispert, and Nembhard. He thrived as their off ball guard who could float in and out and pick his spots with the others carrying the scoring load. I think him being the lone player for the Zags to show up in that Championship game against Baylor was all I needed to know that he was head and shoulders above everyone else and ready for the league.

I don't mean to be argumentative but the above isn't accurate at all.

Suggs was defended by opposing team point guards and defended opposing team point guards.

He received the inbound passes after made field goals and made free throws and brought the ball up the floor. He was absolutely the Zags point guard.

For reference here is a link to a full game so you can verify.

Watch on YouTube

Nembhard and Ayayi were auxiliary ball handlers and if you watch the Zags 2022 team you can see Nembhard slide into Suggs role i.e. receiving the inbounds, bringing the ball up the floor etc. (duties of the point guard)

He's being played out of position right now. A position he's played since at least he was in high school. As a Pg you're are coached to go to the ball or always make yourself available to the ball and that's a hard habit to break. You can still see him struggling to break that habit because after Magic makes instead of running back without the ball he gravitates toward receiving the inbounds but instead he grabs the ball and inbounds it to Cole or Fultz because they don't want him bringing up the ball anymore.

He can't score comfortably off the ball either yet. Orlando made the decision whether wise or not that they were going to try and convert him into a 2 guard and force him to learn how to play off the ball. The thing is franchises.. the poor ones can ruin players. Not saying this is what is happening because I think he is smart enough and hardworking enough to learn how to play off the ball but it's going to take some time and will taking him off the ball even benefit Orlando? There were other ways to do this but Orlando decided against them. Maybe they think he can make the transition also. But if you look at the off the dribble shooting % and the catch and shoot % it's clear why he is struggling to score right now.

[zaymon]

Trade him plus one of those two lottery picks for a proper starter point guard.

choose between anthony and fultz as backup PG-6th man role.

we need someone who can manipulate rhythm of the game,give us spot-up shot,handle the ball under pressure and defend decently,a bit of everything,a complete point guard.

Suggs definetly manipulates rhytm of the game with his energy on both sides. His defense is elite, spot up getting better. We dont need dominant ball handler. We need someone who make quick reads and move the ball. For high level manipulation of defense we have Franz and Paolo.

[JoshuaPotter]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

This confirms the eye test as well. He’s been a menace defensively in the last few games. It looks like he’s even gotten better somehow.

I personally salivate the potential for Suggs + Isaac to play at the same time if it wasn't so gigantically bad on offense. But man the defense hopefully could lead to some impressive offense if done right.

[eyriq]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

One of my favorite metrics. Also, that is a shocking development. I'm so amped about Suggs right now.

[JoshuaPotter]

Where are you leaning on the Suggs/Fultz/Cole logjam? Would you prefer to keep 1/3, 2/3, or all of them?

I'm moving into the blow it up camp with Suggs as the lone survivor.

I would like Anthony to be traded whilst his value is high. Then as to Fultz vs. Suggs, the Magic cannot keep both, so one needs to be traded additionally.

That is: I think only one of the Magic's three PGs should be retained. Personally for me, it's Fultz. But I can understand if management went with Suggs.

..

My issue with Cole is if we could just get him to accept a role off the bench then this Suggs or Fultz debate could begin with haste.

But that is not what Cole Anthony wants. He believes he is a starter and maybe in the future he is, but the future could be now if he accepts a bench role and plays for SMOTY every year.

This means as you say, we ship Cole while his value is high. I do not think he is a starter so lets see if another team could will take that risk on him.

I like the idea of keeping Suggs over Fultz. Suggs could still get better at shooting. If he did then he can be PG/SG of the future. I would be ok with keeping Fultz + Suggs even if we drafted a PG / SG or both in the upcoming draft. Well just make a move to get rid of Fultz when that happens I suppose.

Suggs tenacity on defense means we potentially have 2 A-Tier (possibly S-Tier) defenders on the team with Isaac. Combine that with Paolo + Franz getting better at offense and hopefully defense as they mature and the NBA is on notice.

[JoshuaPotter]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

One of my favorite metrics. Also, that is a shocking development. I'm so amped about Suggs right now.

Listening to Suggs play on the radio over the last 2 games I have really warmed up to him after worrying he is in a bad slump. I think we need to keep Cole or Fultz for the rest of the season and give him more playing time. Isaac + Suggs + Franz in raw metrics alone is giving me some tingly feels.

The fact that Paolo is a rookie in all these metrics is the icing on the cake.

[basketballRob]

That's nice to see the whole team at Suggs jersey retirement at his HS.

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[fendilim]

I don't know how much stock any of you put into 538's RAPTOR formula, but according to that Jalen Suggs is most impactful defender on the team (+1.9 DEF RAPTOR) and the second most impactful player on the roster overall behind Franz.

(not counting Isaac since his sample size is so small)

as bad as he is on offense, this is not shocking anymore. His offense certainly impacts our team’s rating. Negatively…

Kidding aside, he’s a lot better finishing around the basket this year. Last year Suggs would miss a lot of open layups. So I’m confident he can get his legs on shooting as well