The Guards

[jezzerinho]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

[eyriq]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Agreed. He can defend the position. Get that handle under control and he's 75% the way there. Improve that bbiq and playmaking and it's a done deal.

[Skybox]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Agreed. He can defend the position. Get that handle under control and he's 75% the way there. Improve that bbiq and playmaking and it's a done deal.

Just like Will Ferrell in that awesome kid's movie "Kicking and Screaming" (I think it was called)...

..."PASS IT TO THE ITALIAN"

[pepe1991]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Because SG is easiest position to play

[Knightro]

The Suggs at point guard ship has basically sailed. He's 4th in the pecking order there now. He won't be a point guard on this team.

Pretty much his main hope at this point to be a starter is to develop into a good enough 3PT shooter to go along with his defense.

[eyriq]

The Suggs at point guard ship has basically sailed. He's 4th in the pecking order there now. He won't be a point guard on this team.

Pretty much his main hope at this point to be a starter is to develop into a good enough 3PT shooter to go along with his defense.

Isn't Smart a PG?

[eyriq]

Also, who else thinks Black is our best point guard right now, day 1?

[Audi]

I'm assuming Black is the eventual PG of the future but likely isn't ready to go. Start Cole and Suggs. Give Cole the opportunity to earn a big extension and/or up his trade value. If it's a Vuc/Bamba situation, where suddenly Cole is a legit top 15 scoring PG - good problem to sort out when the time comes. Black can, apparently, be deployed many ways, but cannot possibly co-exist with a PG that can't shoot.

What makes you think Cole stepping into a starting role would make him a legit top 15 scoring PG (or increase his trade value at all for that matter)? The last time he consistently started he was commanding the tank job that got us the #1 pick. He averaged 16/5/5 and that's before adding the ROTY #1 option and Franz solidifying his role as #2. He'd be going from #1 scoring option against bench defenses to playing ~5-6 more minutes functioning as a #3/4 option against starting defenses. At best, his numbers would likely look similar to what they were in 21-22, but with the addition of being totally exposed defensively. I wish it were as easy as just starting Cole, but I really don't see how that builds his trade value. And sure - I don't think he's hit his prime yet, but as far as value is concerned, I think he's about as valuable as he can get as a potential 6moty that a team needing a starting PG is willing to take a gamble on.

[89Magicfan]

Also, who else thinks Black is our best point guard right now, day 1?

Is he? I don’t know. Based on what? People saying how high his IQ is? Is Cole our best PG? More questions than answers.

[Knightro]

What makes you think Cole stepping into a starting role would make him a legit top 15 scoring PG (or increase his trade value at all for that matter)? The last time he consistently started he was commanding the tank job that got us the #1 pick. He averaged 16/5/5 and that's before adding the ROTY #1 option and Franz solidifying his role as #2. He'd be going from #1 scoring option against bench defenses to playing ~5-6 more minutes functioning as a #3/4 option against starting defenses. At best, his numbers would likely look similar to what they were in 21-22, but with the addition of being totally exposed defensively. I wish it were as easy as just starting Cole, but I really don't see how that builds his trade value. And sure - I don't think he's hit his prime yet, but as far as value is concerned, I think he's about as valuable as he can get as a potential 6moty that a team needing a starting PG is willing to take a gamble on.

I agree with you.

I think for as good as Cole looked last year in the role he was in, he would very likely see a sharp decline if he was placed back into the starting lineup since that would require him to do more playmaking and facilitating for others (which he's not good at) while also exposing him to more minutes against opposing starters who can light him up easier than opposing backups.

I also think if you moved Fultz to Cole's role he would see an overall uptick as well given the easier circumstances, but I think it would be difficult to transition him to a lesser role for a variety of reasons - his salary, his impending contract and more.

[Skybox]

I'm assuming Black is the eventual PG of the future but likely isn't ready to go. Start Cole and Suggs. Give Cole the opportunity to earn a big extension and/or up his trade value. If it's a Vuc/Bamba situation, where suddenly Cole is a legit top 15 scoring PG - good problem to sort out when the time comes. Black can, apparently, be deployed many ways, but cannot possibly co-exist with a PG that can't shoot.

What makes you think Cole stepping into a starting role would make him a legit top 15 scoring PG (or increase his trade value at all for that matter)? The last time he consistently started he was commanding the tank job that got us the #1 pick. He averaged 16/5/5 and that's before adding the ROTY #1 option and Franz solidifying his role as #2. He'd be going from #1 scoring option against bench defenses to playing ~5-6 more minutes functioning as a #3/4 option against starting defenses. At best, his numbers would likely look similar to what they are now, but with the addition of being totally exposed defensively. I wish it were as easy as just starting Cole, but I really don't see how that builds his trade value.

I don't, but if it did, that'd be a great problem to deal with.

I'd rather start Black but it's kind of assumed that a rookie won't be ready at PG, so you give him more and more as he shows progress. I don't think strapping Cole into the role that we all want him is going to pan out. He likely believes he's good enough to start (somewhere, if not here) and get paid for that role. We, at least to date, haven't been shown that and shouldn't pay him $18m/yr to be a nice spark plug off the bench. It's easy to just assume he'll take $13m and root for the rookie PG...Cole's a great guy, maybe he's that selfless...I'm not betting on it. He was a terrible, selfish, inefficient starter two years ago, when starting on an awful team where he probably believed the best shot available was usually his own. He grew tremendously last season...maybe he's ready. Either way, he gets to write his own story.

[eyriq]

Also, who else thinks Black is our best point guard right now, day 1?

Is he? I don’t know. Based on what? People saying how high his IQ is? Is Cole our best PG? More questions than answers.

This would be based on pure imagination

[Black and Blue]

Also, who else thinks Black is our best point guard right now, day 1?

Is he? I don’t know. Based on what? People saying how high his IQ is? Is Cole our best PG? More questions than answers.

Day 1? I'd say no chance at all on that. Markelle is top dog right now because he can provide the mix of scoring and playing in the flow of the game. Then Cole second simply for his microwave scoring which our second unit lacks. Then Black right now, as he will need to adjust to the speed of the game and see how his shooting performs in game simulations. But I will give you that Black definitely seems to fit what the team wants most long term which is a smart, position-fluid, facilitator. Markelle and Cole each have their own issues in that respect.

What I do believe is there exists a possibility in which Black performs well earlier than expected and hastens that transition to replacing our existing guards. This does require enough playing time to gauge, which is the team's messiest obstacle as we speak.

[tooler]

I think I need addiction counseling because I'd be more excited to see Black/Howard start than Fultz/Harris.

When I'm sober I realize we need to win games and we'll do that with veterans like Fultz and Harris. But I need one more hit of that new rookie crack pipe.

And really, a few stubbed toes and strained finger joints is all it would take. Just for a few weeks. Then we can get back to winning. I promise.

[jezzerinho]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Because SG is easiest position to play

Ffs Pepe, one of these days i'll stuff that laughing emoji up your tailpipe.

Who said anything abput it being easier?

A guy who struggles to see the court, not dribble it off his foot, run pnr and not turn it over is not exactly your natural candidate for PG, regardless of his other abilities. To everyone else, that should be obvious.

[VFX]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Because SG is easiest position to play

Ffs Pepe, one of these days i'll stuff that laughing emoji up your tailpipe.

Who said anything abput it being easier?

A guy who struggles to see the court, not dribble it off his foot, run pnr and not turn it over is not exactly your natural candidate for PG, regardless of his other abilities. To everyone else, that should be obvious.

Yeah, SG is the 'easiest' to play simply due to who your matchup happens to be.

There aren't many great shooting guards in the league. The two best are on the Suns.

At the end of the day Suggs is guarding the other teams best back court player, until Black becomes acclimated, and then he can take advantage of mismatches.

[pepe1991]

Suggs has a much tougher path to being a PG than a SG. Impossibly tough? Not far off on evidence to date, I'd say.

Because SG is easiest position to play

Ffs Pepe, one of these days i'll stuff that laughing emoji up your tailpipe.

Who said anything abput it being easier?

A guy who struggles to see the court, not dribble it off his foot, run pnr and not turn it over is not exactly your natural candidate for PG, regardless of his other abilities. To everyone else, that should be obvious.

Maybe he got better


Shooting guard nowdays isn't very talented position. JR Smith, KCP and Danny Green started on 6 championship teams ( KCP & Green on same tho)


I mean , whole Suggs thing to me comes down to investment. Would Magic invest 5th overall pick if they knew he can't play PG? No. Would anybody else invest top 10 pick with that information? Probably not.
If he isn't PG i don't see much reasons to keep him and play him at other positions

I would rather package him, own, Nuggets pick, Jett Howard for Devin Vassell , or buy low on Norman Powell/ Trent , go after Monk or Huerter than enter playoffs and have high-kick in face of reality once Suggs shows he really can't play SG against serious defense for same reasons you mentioned above ( kicking ball off his foot, crushing in paint without purpose, or simply throwing bricks in air).

I'm also not sure he, himself, wants to play SG long term. Most players who view themselfs as PG hate idea of being moved off ball (Chris Paul, Harden, Lonzo Ball to name few ). Jrue Holiday once said he hates to play SG or PG ? I can't recall witch one

[zaymon]

Do we want to start Black ?

Yes- trade Fultz

No- trade Anthony/Suggs

I think thats the crucial decision we need to make. Coming soon...

[eyriq]

Do we want to start Black ?

Yes- trade Fultz

No- trade Anthony/Suggs

I think thats the crucial decision we need to make. Coming soon...

Yes

[drsd]

Also, who else thinks Black is our best point guard right now, day 1?

Rookie PGs are always awful. Not only is Black 4th in "best PG" rankings, he might be 5th or 6th behind the PG skills of G-Harris and F-Wagner.

Black's role this season is not to provide positive minutes; it is to grow his game. He will be an absolute TO machine.