Official 2024-2025 Magic Trade ideas thread continued

[Rainwater]

Its kinda of funny none of this EVER applies to Paolo and Franz in these conversations.

Those two guys are completely off the table even though neither can shoot and are getting max deals without any question.

I like Suggs but are we really comparing him to Franz/Paolo? lol.

Its not a comparison.

I just like that all of the problems with the way this team operates never applies to those two guys. Its a problem with literally every other factor.
Then none of the roster configuration does either. It's just a given that both of those guys must exist here on max deals regardless of anything.

But yeah, Suggs is $30m/5 and has missed a lot of basketball in 4 seasons so lets trade him. It's just kind of funny to me because outside of him missing games due to injury I have no real qualms about how he operates within Orlando's system. I have more questions with those two making max money.

Because they aren’t the biggest problems. Can Franz shot better from three? Sure. Can Paolo be more efficient and play better defense? Sure. If the Magic fix the 3 point shooting, add a pg, maybe get a center, and get better bench play and are still are losing then I can see the Franz and Paolo getting blame. However, when there are so many glaring holes it’s hard to blame your two most productive players and likely all NBA players who are only 22 and 23.

[dsg2021]

The only thing that gives me reason to consider moving Suggs for the right price is a worry about his injuries. This last one going from an unknown short amount of missed time to season ending surgery fairly inexplicably triggered my Isaac PTSD.

That said, I think Suggs has that Josh Hart kind of championship grit and a touch of Chauncey Big Shot Billups which makes him one of my favs. I really wouldn’t want to move him unless it was necessary.

Suggs was having more hot shooting stretches this season. He’s starting to look like a real shooter a lot. And not just a set shooter either. I personally believe he would have had a hot shooting Playoffs versus Boston and we’d be in a 6-7 game series with him and Mo.

[VFX]

I like Suggs but are we really comparing him to Franz/Paolo? lol.

Its not a comparison.

I just like that all of the problems with the way this team operates never applies to those two guys. Its a problem with literally every other factor.
Then none of the roster configuration does either. It's just a given that both of those guys must exist here on max deals regardless of anything.

But yeah, Suggs is $30m/5 and has missed a lot of basketball in 4 seasons so lets trade him. It's just kind of funny to me because outside of him missing games due to injury I have no real qualms about how he operates within Orlando's system. I have more questions with those two making max money.

Because they aren’t the biggest problems. Can Franz shot better from three? Sure. Can Paolo be more efficient and play better defense? Sure. If the Magic fix the 3 point shooting, add a pg, maybe get a center, and get better bench play and are still are losing then I can see the Franz and Paolo getting blame. However, when there are so many glaring holes it’s hard to blame your two most productive players and likely all NBA players who are only 22 and 23.

When you have a bottom 5 offense, with supposedly two max guys running things on high usage, then you might have a problem.

Now, if you want to tell me that both of those guys will develop significantly to the point that they can will the rest of the team into better offense, then fine. Both of those guys ARE scorers. That is their entire job.

I understand that the rest of the roster needs to get fleshed out and a coaching upgrade needs to probably take place. If people and management think trading Suggs is the answer to making those two guys actually work, then so be it. I think if Weltman did his goddamn job for more than 2 weeks out of the year he might have found a point guard capable of making the offense look average without giving up Jalen Suggs.

[Ducklett]

Its not a comparison.

I just like that all of the problems with the way this team operates never applies to those two guys. Its a problem with literally every other factor.
Then none of the roster configuration does either. It's just a given that both of those guys must exist here on max deals regardless of anything.

But yeah, Suggs is $30m/5 and has missed a lot of basketball in 4 seasons so lets trade him. It's just kind of funny to me because outside of him missing games due to injury I have no real qualms about how he operates within Orlando's system. I have more questions with those two making max money.

Because they aren’t the biggest problems. Can Franz shot better from three? Sure. Can Paolo be more efficient and play better defense? Sure. If the Magic fix the 3 point shooting, add a pg, maybe get a center, and get better bench play and are still are losing then I can see the Franz and Paolo getting blame. However, when there are so many glaring holes it’s hard to blame your two most productive players and likely all NBA players who are only 22 and 23.

When you have a bottom 5 offense, with supposedly two max guys running things on high usage, then you might have a problem.

Now, if you want to tell me that both of those guys will develop significantly to the point that they can will the rest of the team into better offense, then fine. Both of those guys ARE scorers. That is their entire job.

I understand that the rest of the roster needs to get fleshed out and a coaching upgrade needs to probably take place. If people and management think trading Suggs is the answer to making those two guys actually work, then so be it. I think if Weltman did his goddamn job for more than 2 weeks out of the year he might have found a point guard capable of making the offense look average without giving up Jalen Suggs.

I don't think there is a single player in the league outside of the top 5 players that we could have traded for to beat OKC, so the question is, how do we get to that level? Our core three have to get better or need to be traded until we find THE guy. If it really is championship or nothing.

[VFX]

Because they aren’t the biggest problems. Can Franz shot better from three? Sure. Can Paolo be more efficient and play better defense? Sure. If the Magic fix the 3 point shooting, add a pg, maybe get a center, and get better bench play and are still are losing then I can see the Franz and Paolo getting blame. However, when there are so many glaring holes it’s hard to blame your two most productive players and likely all NBA players who are only 22 and 23.

When you have a bottom 5 offense, with supposedly two max guys running things on high usage, then you might have a problem.

Now, if you want to tell me that both of those guys will develop significantly to the point that they can will the rest of the team into better offense, then fine. Both of those guys ARE scorers. That is their entire job.

I understand that the rest of the roster needs to get fleshed out and a coaching upgrade needs to probably take place. If people and management think trading Suggs is the answer to making those two guys actually work, then so be it. I think if Weltman did his goddamn job for more than 2 weeks out of the year he might have found a point guard capable of making the offense look average without giving up Jalen Suggs.

I don't think there is a single player in the league outside of the top 5 players that we could have traded for to beat OKC, so the question is, how do we get to that level? Our core three have to get better or need to be traded until we find THE guy. If it really is championship or nothing.

What does finding a point guard capable of contributing to the growth of two max contract players have to do with competing for championships this season? Is that some weird goalpost you added to the conversation?

Orlando is nowhere near that yet…. Obviously.

There is a grey area between competing for championships and developing. If your offense looks like **** and your two main MAX contract players are delivering a bottom 5 offense it’s either the system or them. Development internally doesn’t jump your rating on offense 10-15 spots because you got older.

Again, if you are telling me this roster is 1 total player away from being an AVERAGE offense, then so be it. Trade whoever that isn’t those two guys. Thats the bet you are making at the expense of assets. Jalen Suggs for Darius Garland straight up wouldn’t be the trade. Magic are giving up more.

[Knightro]

Garland is only a year and a half older than Suggs, so it's not like a trade with those two guys as the primary pieces from a player perspective tangibly changes the Magic's window in any negative way.

Trading Suggs for Derrick White, who is about to turn 31, would represent a significant shift in the timeline.

Suggs for Garland would not.

[Black and Blue]

The average NBA team allocates around 69% of their cap to their top 3 players. If Orlando adds Garland to Paolo and Franz, that number for us jumps to ~74–80% in 2026–27 and 2027–28.

That might sound steep, but it's actually in line with what winning teams do. This season, 40% of teams spent at or above that level on their top 3. Here’s this list:

PHX: 107.1%
PHI: 96.6%
MIL: 91.9%
DEN: 87.7%
MIN: 84.7%
BOS: 81.1%
MIA: 80.1%
NYK: 78.8%
LAL: 77.4%
GSW: 75.5%
NOP: 75.5%
IND: 74.2%

If Paolo, Franz, and Garland are your core, that kind of cap concentration is not a red flag. It's a signal you're serious about competing.

Well said. People who want to add Simons to our current 3 fail to realize he would need to be extended and that would mean our top 4 is expensive. We have been needing a consolidation trade for years now, so I’m of the mind we can get our third star while shedding weight elsewhere.

That said, I’m open if there is a way to keep Suggs while drastically improving our team long term. The issue is that many of the mid level targets people are wanting would either be rentals or become expensive very fast.

Side note: I want to see the damn new logo. I can’t wait any longer. Hopefully they unveil it before the draft.

[VFX]

Garland is only a year and a half older than Suggs, so it's not like a trade with those two guys as the primary pieces from a player perspective tangibly changes the Magic's window in any negative way.

Trading Suggs for Derrick White, who is about to turn 31, would represent a significant shift in the timeline.

Suggs for Garland would not.

What other assets would Orlando have to give up in this hypothetical trade? #16? Another player? Or is it just Suggs for Garland?

[Knightro]

What other assets would Orlando have to give up in this hypothetical trade? #16? Another player? Or is it just Suggs for Garland?

Suggs, Da Silva and 16 for Garland? Something like that.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid game + mid playoffs last year?….


Garland’s breakdown was very much televised….

Might as well go for Trae after we destroyed his spirit in the most recent playoffs…



I kid…. It’s a big no to both of them,imo.

[Knightro]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

The Pacers are about to make the finals, are are nowhere near the luxury tax, and Nembhard makes less than $20M AAV. They have no reason to trade him or anyone else in their core.

The only reason Garland is even potentially on the trade block is because the Cavs have flamed out in three straight playoffs with this group, but are now deep into the 2nd apron.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

The Pacers are about to make the finals, are are nowhere near the luxury tax, and Nembhard makes less than $20M AAV. They have no reason to trade him or anyone else in their core.

The only reason Garland is even potentially on the trade block is because the Cavs have flamed out in three straight playoffs with this group, but are now deep into the 2nd apron.

No offense, but you basically backed up why I wouldn’t go after Garland.

[eyriq]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Nebhard will be traded imo, if they keep him, then Mathurin…

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

[eyriq]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

He's been terrible in the playoffs, you aren't wrong there.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

I’d go after Nembhard 100 out of 100 times over Garland….

Why are we even talking about Garland after Suggs punked him so hard he had to be consoled by Spider mid playoffs last year?….

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

Also, he’s definitely not worth trading Suggs for, if that s the cost…

I’d take Simons for Cole + before trading Suggs for Garland.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

He's been terrible in the playoffs, you aren't wrong there.

Thanks, man!

We need to be looking for playoff caliber guards, or uncut gems here, imo.

Garland is not him…

[Knightro]

Nebhard will be traded imo, if they keep him, then Mathurin…

Why would the Pacers who the last two years have gone to the ECF and very likely the NBA Finals trade anybody?

They're not even a taxpaying team at the moment. Their exceeding expectations AND their powder is dry. Best of all worlds.

[Knightro]

He's a top 10 point guard. Top 4 25 years and younger.

Yet he cries in the playoffs…

Also, he’s definitely not worth trading Suggs for, if that s the cost…

I’d take Simons for Cole + before trading Suggs for Garland.

The same Simons who has never started a single playoff game and hasn't even really played a meaningful basketball game in five years?

A lot of these guys who are rumored to be trade targets for the Magic like Simons and Sexton and Coby White really haven't ever played on a meaningful role on a good team.

There's just as much risk in that as there is in a guy that's struggled with injuries in the playoffs IMO.