Official 2024-2025 Magic Trade ideas thread continued

[OrlandoDream]

I'm trying to look at trade options with teams looking to rebuild that 1) give us the guard we desperately need and 2) give us a serviceable big man that can help out without too much of a financial obligation.

Here's one:

ORL sends: Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, ORL 25 frp (top 8 protected)
CHI sends: Coby White, Jalen Smith

* I would add a couple of srps if GM's feel that Coby's value warrants it, also I believe Cole's deal is a slight negative, so rather than sub in expirings, I'd prefer to add draft equity to get Cole's deal off of the books...I also see Cole even farther out of the rotation post-trade, so it'd be the kindest thing for him - to send him to a building team and a fresh start.

Less enthusiastically, but I'd do it...

ORL sends Cole Anthony, Anthony Black, DEN 25 frp

*CHI could be enamored with a long, complementary Giddey/AB backcourt growing together. The draft equity declines accordingly as AB, imo, has much more value than Jett presently does.

Much less exciting stopgap version...

ORL sends: Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, Gary Harris
CHI sends: Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith

*Lonzo is really really good and mostly it shows in overall team improvement, but the injury history is right there with Isaac AND he's an expiring (which may not be a bad thing). He might REALLY click with our young core in need of leadership, floor spreading and elite court vision. Great example for AB...another large, good defender, selective 3pt shooting, high BBIQ, PG. Even if he leaves or we choose not to try to re-sign him, we get off a lot more salary and add a young, versatile, frontcourt rotation guy in Jalen Smith.

Chicago will prob want young talent like Anthony Black to match someone like Coby White. Coby white still just 24yo and prob their most promising young player. Were gonna have to give up a young talent to get another teams young talent. If they want AB and one of our FRP then send it. CW is lit the perfect prototypical PG this team needs in the backcourt.

[The-Stallion70]

Trend 1: declining player value

Alright, hear me out. Suggs had a rocky start to his career. He was taken ahead of Franz but Franz clearly passed him in the pecking order.

Trend 2: Not being built around

He lost his status to the point that he was benched and we drafted two guards in the lottery, one of which, AB, is in the same archetype.

Trend 3: Pressure to expand his game

He gains his footing, develops into an amazing defender with a spot-up three and some ability to be a playmaker. The team signs KCP who is an amazing defender with a spot-up three, forcing Suggs to lean into his playmaking.

Trend 4: Team is clearing a path for AB

AB is showing better playmaking with similar defense, and is being handed the keys to the second unit after Fultz and Ingles are released.

Trend 5: The team kept enough flexibility to upgrade their 3rd option.

Suggs is injured all the time and is now missing significant time again. He's paid 3rd option money and still needs to prove he can develop into a reliable 3rd option. His deal is declining to bring his cap hit down to a range that puts him as an affordable 3rd option/expensive 4th option.



There is a legit world where he is our Marcus Smart and is traded for that missing piece down the road. I'm thinking 2028 and beyond, once AB's second contract comes due.

Is this some kind of ChatGPT engagement farming?

It seems like AB should prove himself as a starter before we discuss him replacing a core piece

What part of the analysis don't you agree with? Are any of those trends inaccurate.

I'm being compared to soul and AI lately, my ego is being caressed.

It looks like a Christmas wish list

Deductively this reads like, he'll become better than Suggs and once he does he'll be better than Suggs.

Sure I can logically agree with this statement that if A is better than B, then A is better than B.

[eyriq]

Is this some kind of ChatGPT engagement farming?

It seems like AB should prove himself as a starter before we discuss him replacing a core piece

What part of the analysis don't you agree with? Are any of those trends inaccurate.

I'm being compared to soul and AI lately, my ego is being caressed.

It looks like a Christmas wish list

Deductively this reads like, he'll become better than Suggs and once he does he'll be better than Suggs.

Sure I can logically agree with this statement that if A is better than B, then A is better than B.

I actually have never said he'll be better than Suggs. I've said he'll be a better playmaker than Suggs and he already is.

If you don't find any of those points compelling or interesting, here is another to get our Suggs vs AB juices flowing.

There is a strong consensus building that we need more offense from our guard rotation. AB, Suggs, and KCP are locked up for the next three years. AB and Suggs will continue to develop, but if neither AB or Suggs develop into two-way players in the next few seasons we are in a pickle. There is more pressure on Suggs than AB since Suggs signed his extension and its 3rd option money, while AB will be 23 and still on his rookie deal. Trading Suggs would start to look like a very attractive move in summer 2027 in this scenario.

[VFX]

AB vs Suggs was inevitable. Least favorite lottery selection in years overtaking a fan favorite is a narrative not for the faint of heart. I've been molded over the past two seasons to bear this burden.

I would sooner waive AB than trade Suggs to make room for him in the SL.

I saw the breadcrumbs you were leaving over the last few weeks and this was predictable.

At least its original that you are calling yourself out as having an agenda instead of making **** up about Suggs to bolster your terrible position.

Suggs is going nowhere.

[eyriq]

AB vs Suggs was inevitable. Least favorite lottery selection in years overtaking a fan favorite is a narrative not for the faint of heart. I've been molded over the past two seasons to bear this burden.

I would sooner waive AB than trade Suggs to make room for him in the SL.

I saw the breadcrumbs you were leaving over the last few weeks and this was predictable.

At least its original that you are calling yourself out as having an agenda instead of making **** up about Suggs to bolster your terrible position.

Suggs is going nowhere.

Just pointing out the trends I'm seeing. As we progress through this build we will inevitably exit player development and enter win-now. Suggs appears to be vulnerable and I think it's fair to consider him our Marcus Smart candidate and the trade that completes the build.

[RichCollab]

AB vs Suggs was inevitable. Least favorite lottery selection in years overtaking a fan favorite is a narrative not for the faint of heart. I've been molded over the past two seasons to bear this burden.

I would sooner waive AB than trade Suggs to make room for him in the SL.

I saw the breadcrumbs you were leaving over the last few weeks and this was predictable.

At least its original that you are calling yourself out as having an agenda instead of making **** up about Suggs to bolster your terrible position.

Suggs is going nowhere.

Just pointing out the trends I'm seeing. As we progress through this build we will inevitably exit player development and enter win-now. Suggs appears to be vulnerable and I think it's fair to consider him our Marcus Smart candidate and the trade that completes the build.

Marcus Smart career high ppg is 14.5. Suggs is at 16.4 in his 4th season.

We aren’t the Celtics and Suggs isn’t Marcus Smart.

You have become delusional.

[eyriq]

I would sooner waive AB than trade Suggs to make room for him in the SL.

I saw the breadcrumbs you were leaving over the last few weeks and this was predictable.

At least its original that you are calling yourself out as having an agenda instead of making **** up about Suggs to bolster your terrible position.

Suggs is going nowhere.

Just pointing out the trends I'm seeing. As we progress through this build we will inevitably exit player development and enter win-now. Suggs appears to be vulnerable and I think it's fair to consider him our Marcus Smart candidate and the trade that completes the build.

Marcus Smart career high ppg is 14.5. Suggs is at 16.4 in his 4th season.

We aren’t the Celtics and Suggs isn’t Marcus Smart.

You have become delusional.

I just call it like I see it. Suggs play style is out of control and overly physical, resulting in frequent injuries, turnovers, and fouls. His scoring output and efficiency have been inconsistent. His defense is great but redundant. There is a world where these things don't improve, he's still a top 50-70 player, but to optimize the build we need to trade him. Why is that delusional? That sort of hurts my feelings.

[The-Stallion70]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

[eyriq]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

[Skybox]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

I think that's a fair point, but counter to everything we've seen with this "defense > offense" FO. In most of my trade suggestions, I'm going with the idea that Suggs is likely still the 3rd Most Valuable overall impact player, but the new guy is likely the 3rd highest scorer and, on many nights, the highest scorer - because, presumably, they won't have the same defensive impact as Suggs (and others).

*AB's just NOT ever going to be THAT kind of scorer...he'll get better, but these visions eyriq is having are clearly magic mushroom - induced.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

So this year that’s Cole Anthony who comes in at 12.9M rofl.

[RichCollab]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

Suggs is fine and dare I say even a good 3rd option.

He was 1st option with Paolo and Franz out and still produced.

Paolo had Franz and Suggs at the start
Franz had Suggs.

Suggs is not Smart on offense.

AB when he isn’t wide wide open is a pretty bad 3pt shooter. I fully expect Suggs 3pt % to go back up when we get Paolo and Franz back.

I’m hopeful for AB and he is the 4th most important player on this team in my opinion. So I agree AB is just starting to show what he has.

[Skybox]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

So this year that’s Cole Anthony who comes in at 12.9M rofl.

and WCJ is set to jump him when his extension kicks in what are they doing?

[eyriq]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

So this year that’s Cole Anthony who comes in at 12.9M rofl.

LOL touche

[eyriq]

Smart was never efficient though, teams let him jack up shots because he brought so many other positives on defense and chemistry.

Suggs has become efficient but very injury prone and prone to bad decision making. Suggs' defense can also come and go.

Right now the most obvious need is a 3rd guy that's truly a threat to score. As long as it's that obvious... (the guy who is paid the third most will be under scrutiny)

I think that's a fair point, but counter to everything we've seen with this "defense > offense" FO. In most of my trade suggestions, I'm going with the idea that Suggs is likely still the 3rd Most Valuable overall impact player, but the new guy is likely the 3rd highest scorer and, on many nights, the highest scorer - because, presumably, they won't have the same defensive impact as Suggs (and others).

*AB's just NOT ever going to be THAT kind of scorer...he'll get better, but these visions eyriq is having are clearly magic mushroom - induced.

I don't think AB comes into the calculus for a third scorer. He's going to be on his rookie contract through 2027 and is still early in his development timeline. Suggs will be paid 3rd option money through 2028, and then 4th/5th option money through 2030. They've left wiggle room for an AB extension as is, but if Suggs hasn't developed into a 3rd option, and AB hasn't either, there is going to be lot of pressure to trade for one. Suggs will have the salary to get what we need.

[The-Stallion70]

Cole is more of a weapon offensivey than Black. I believe this is why Black appears timid to many posters because he's not actually that talented to begin with. What do you think hes holding back? His speed quickness or shooting ability? I've seen enough of the kid to know thats not the case.

[Fortune Teller]

Dead last in the league in 3-point percentage
Dead last in points per game
28th in 3-Pointers Made
28th in FG%

But let's not cut corners! We have make room for Black (24.5% from three) to develop! In another 5-6 years he'll be a stud!

[Skybox]

I'm starting to think eyriq is just having fun with this story...it's pure Sci-Fi

Just building his brand as "AB Guy"

I like it

[eyriq]

I'm starting to think eyriq is just having fun with this story...it's pure Sci-Fi

Just building his brand as "AB Guy"

I like it

This is the logical next step IMO. Conversations must be had. Regardless, I'm feeling extremely less content with operation run it back.

[Butter]

Blazers fan, I come in peace. Forget the score, what were Magic fans thoughts on Ant Simons?

I did not get to watch the game