Magic Sign G Jalen Suggs to a 5 year, 150.5M Contract Extension

[UCF]

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[RichCollab]

I’m still betting we resign Suggs.

I’m curious what the negotiations look like. I personally don’t think either side should completely baulk at 30 million per but I really don’t know.

[RichCollab]

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I think that’s a guess at best.

[eyriq]

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This checks out for me. His cap hold is $28M, so I automatically assume he wants more than that. $30M AAV would put him in the top 50, which is where we need him to be talent wise, so it also makes sense that he'd be looking to be compensated as a championship quality 3rd option.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Regardless of the number, I genuinely hope it is figured out before deadline. We’re not in contention yet, but we don’t want this looming all season because not only does it affect the psych of Jalen but also his teammates. I don’t think $30AAV is unreasonable and understand while UM wants it a little lower.

I think they ultimately agree on terms prior to deadline.

[Skybox]

Suggs at $30m and Franz at $45 (added to Paolo at what - $50?) has treadmill all over it, IMO.

We all love Suggs...but he's, at his best, an emerging excellent role player, with one year of pleasantly surprising 3pt shooting on his resume. We can happily pay him next summer - whatever deal he EARNS, match and/or SnT. Franz might be an All-Star or might never shoot it well and be a good, but difficult to trade at that deal, co-star. We overpaid another excellent role player in KCP, who could, theoretically, replace Suggs or make him movable for a less redundant guard.

I'm not pushing for any of these at the moment, but the FO is not handcuffed and needs to not just keep paying everyone - at least not before they have to and/or before they've demonstrated their value consistently.

I'm aware the cap is going up...that still doesn't make Suggs anything but a PROMISING (not proven) elite 3&D guard. Awesome intensity, awesome mindset and infectious fierce joy on the floor...that can blind one to the limits of his game. Franz was far better from his rookie year onward than Suggs will likely ever be - and even his deal is not beyond question. If Franz hits 3's at 30% this year and Weltman gives Suggs $30+ to do the same I'd really like to see Suggs repeat or come close to last year's shooting -but it's far from certain.

I can only assume that extending & re-signing every marginal player on the roster (and thus negating any FA flexibility for the foreseeable future) smells like the FO saying "We've seen how impotent we are with tons of cap space...let's see what team will trade for a bushel of OK to good players"...this year's TD could be interesting.

On that note, KCP only left DEN for the money...now he's got the deal he wanted. If Suggs' or Jett or whoever's emergence makes KCP a valued veteran trade chip - so be it. He'll be fine and noone will fault ORL for moving him (assuming it makes the team better).

[RichCollab]

This may be the wrong way to look at this but Suggs is a foundational piece and the soul of this team. Has already made the all defensive team.

I’m paying Suggs. It makes sense on to many levels. He fits next to Paolo well. Committing money to Suggs won’t be the reason we are a treadmill team.

[zaymon]

I see no scenario where we pay 30M for Suggs. His role is not that valueable unless he swims as a lead ball handler.
KCP works both ways, either as a fit next to PG Suggs, or as his replacement.

[RichCollab]

I see no scenario where we pay 30M for Suggs. His role is not that valueable unless he swims as a lead ball handler.
KCP works both ways, either as a fit next to PG Suggs, or as his replacement.

KCP is on the decline. In no way is he a Suggs replacement. I would buy Black has his replacement given Suggs fit size wise is at PG.

Can you have to many elite 3 and D players around Paolo and Franz?

[RichCollab]

This feels like the no way Franz gets max crowd vs the reality based facts. We aren’t a free agent destination yet. We need Suggs.

[VFX]

Suggs at $30m and Franz at $45 (added to Paolo at what - $50?) has treadmill all over it, IMO.

We all love Suggs...but he's, at his best, an emerging excellent role player, with one year of pleasantly surprising 3pt shooting on his resume. We can happily pay him next summer - whatever deal he EARNS, match and/or SnT. Franz might be an All-Star or might never shoot it well and be a good, but difficult to trade at that deal, co-star. We overpaid another excellent role player in KCP, who could, theoretically, replace Suggs or make him movable for a less redundant guard.

I'm not pushing for any of these at the moment, but the FO is not handcuffed and needs to not just keep paying everyone - at least not before they have to and/or before they've demonstrated their value consistently.

I'm aware the cap is going up...that still doesn't make Suggs anything but a PROMISING (not proven) elite 3&D guard. Awesome intensity, awesome mindset and infectious fierce joy on the floor...that can blind one to the limits of his game. Franz was far better from his rookie year onward than Suggs will likely ever be - and even his deal is not beyond question. If Franz hits 3's at 30% this year and Weltman gives Suggs $30+ to do the same I'd really like to see Suggs repeat or come close to last year's shooting -but it's far from certain.

I can only assume that extending & re-signing every marginal player on the roster (and thus negating any FA flexibility for the foreseeable future) smells like the FO saying "We've seen how impotent we are with tons of cap space...let's see what team will trade for a bushel of OK to good players"...this year's TD could be interesting.

On that note, KCP only left DEN for the money...now he's got the deal he wanted. If Suggs' or Jett or whoever's emergence makes KCP a valued veteran trade chip - so be it. He'll be fine and noone will fault ORL for moving him (assuming it makes the team better).

I think what people should remember in all of this is context and being realistic. Orlando is never a player in free agency and Weltman isn't making huge blockbuster trades. So then, WHO are they paying as that third option realistically to pair next to their two supposed scorers/playmakers on offense?

You could do a LOT worse than Suggs as your third guy.

Why? Because Franz and Paolo are who they are hanging their hat on offensively. Both of those guys need to absolutely step up and become deserving of their max deals. If they don’t, then people will start asking whether Suggs is pulling his weight worth his deal. In reality, the defensive side of the ball is where he will earn his money. Everyone knows this already. Boston just won their championship with Derrick White at age 28-29 as their third scoring option averaging 15ppg. So if I’m asking myself whether Suggs can become that guy? Yes. Absolutely I do in time at the $25-30m Holiday/White range.

The bigger issue with Suggs contract numbers comes down to two things…

1) who else is on the roster, other than the core 3 guys, that they are going to eventually need to pay? Who fits with those guys? The FO is still figuring that out and it’s apparent they are dilly dallying around re-signing everyone instead of making those decisions. And yeah, that player needs to be valued as a volume-ish scorer and not a luxury backup or mediocre Center.

2) Is the offense good enough with Paolo and Franz to rely on them making max money? Can Orlando settle in knowing the rest of the roster needs are made on the fringes? Again, this comes down to player development and this FO actually making decisions.

Those are bigger questions to me that need to be answered than whether or not Orlando wants to keep a top 3 defense while paying Suggs slightly more than what he’s worth. Its the offense that’s been the issue. Not the defense. So, you are paying two guys max money, knowingly with a #22 ranked offense, whose primary focus is specifically that. That’s a much bigger concern IMO.

[Kent]

Here's what you have to ask yourself — can you win a championship with Paolo, Franz and Suggs as your top-paid guys?

I'll throw a wrench into all of this...

Could anyone besides Dumars have predicted a championship with 'Sheed, Big Ben and Rip as a team's top-paid players (Chauncey was a close fourth) in 2004?

Am I talking out both sides of my mouth. Sort of. So by this logic, your fourth best player has to be really good and not expensive.

[VFX]

I see no scenario where we pay 30M for Suggs. His role is not that valueable unless he swims as a lead ball handler.
KCP works both ways, either as a fit next to PG Suggs, or as his replacement.

In no world is 31 year old journeyman KCP a replacement for 23 year old all-defense Suggs.

They should sooner move Orlando to Vegas if that’s how they are planning on running things.

[anothermagicfan]

If Suggs wants 30 mil per year or more he's probably going to get it. If not from us then another team. He'd have to have an explosive year for significantly more money than that and if he does we wouldn't not give him the money. If he stays similar to last year he's probably going to get 30 still. So he can wait until he's a restricted free agent and let his play force a big raise. And we can still match any other offer. His cap hold is less than 30. So signing him now actually decreases cap room for next free agency. FO and Suggs both know this and my guess is they're both aware that waiting puts the team in a better position to add to what we have. Suggs isn't going anywhere. KCP is not Suggs replacement. He's a mentor for Suggs/AB/Jett and could very well become a great contract with value to match salaries if a big trade ever materializes.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I thought this was going to be done at the end of the summer like Franz’ was. But here we are a few days away from the deadline and it seems like we’re going into the season with this. I hope Suggs know what he is doing because if he gets injured this season he will not see the amount that he wants.

[eyriq]

The 50th ranked player makes 22.76% of the cap, the 90th makes 14.7%. Somewhere in this range is where we'll see Suggs I think.

[Knightro]

Suggs at $30m and Franz at $45 (added to Paolo at what - $50?) has treadmill all over it, IMO.

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[Bensational]

Another thing to consider is that Franz just got paid a max deal so his performance is going to set the standard for a max deal from Suggs’ perspective. So far this preseason Franz is 0-7 from 3, and 8-27 overall over 3 preseason games. Suggs looks every bit the max player that those performances do.

I think Franz needs to spend next summer in Orlando working on his game instead of playing international ball because everyone else looks better and more capable and Franz is off to his worst start since he was drafted. We need to expect A LOT better return from our first max contract.

[Skybox]

Suggs at $30m and Franz at $45 (added to Paolo at what - $50?) has treadmill all over it, IMO.

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ONE legit star and two very solid supporters.

OR, were you laughing at Paolo ONLY getting $50m?

*I'll moderate myself and repeat what I've always said...Suggs AND the FO deciding to wait for one more year of evidence isn't illogical (from either side). He's not worth $30 at his current level and his current level has been one season and it was WAY ahead of the previous two - particularly in shooting pct. I think it's fair to say that he's worth $25m-ish today, but he may well be worth $32m+ if his trajectory of improvement is as dramatic as last year. His career efficiency, offensive creation, shooting and availability concerns are still very real if optimistic. I believe in Suggs...last year was awesome. Two gentlemen can say "let's talk again in a bit" when it makes more sense, without it being a stare down.

Just like spitting that max at Franz was a bit premature (universally seen that way outside of ORL fans- who may be right but...)

[mattdelray1220]

4 years 100 is a fair deal for both sides.