Official 2024-2025 Magic Trade ideas thread continued

[Knightro]

Garland crumbles in big time moments.

Cleveland needs Suggs more than we need Garland.
Cavs would have to sweeten the trade, not us.
Also, Suggs’ contract is way better.

This is CRAZY stuff.

This is the same Jalen Suggs who shot 3/25 from 3PT range in the four games the Magic lost in Cleveland last year. He was a total shrinking no show in all four losses.

One playoffs series does not make a reputation.

The same applies to Garland.

I think he's being unfairly criticized for attempting to play through injuries and not being up to his standards in the playoffs.

[Rainwater]

Garland crumbles in big time moments.

Cleveland needs Suggs more than we need Garland.
Cavs would have to sweeten the trade, not us.
Also, Suggs’ contract is way better.

This is CRAZY stuff.

This is the same Jalen Suggs who shot 3/25 from 3PT range in the four games the Magic lost in Cleveland last year. He was a total shrinking no show in all four losses.

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.

[AdamTheGreek]

Garland crumbles in big time moments.

Cleveland needs Suggs more than we need Garland.
Cavs would have to sweeten the trade, not us.
Also, Suggs’ contract is way better.

This is CRAZY stuff.

This is the same Jalen Suggs who shot 3/25 from 3PT range in the four games the Magic lost in Cleveland last year. He was a total shrinking no show in all four losses.

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.

Paolo shot 40% on 3s in the Cavs series and 44.4 3PT% on 3s in the Boston series.

Franz is a career 85% free throw shooter. Great FT shooters over a career are at worse decent shooters.

Don’t tell me those guys can’t shoot. They’re getting better.

[eyriq]

I am flabbergasted that people wouldn't trade Suggs for Garland genuinely.

The same Suggs who has missed almost double the amount of games over the last four years that Garland has missed.

Suggs + Simons or Sexton or White > Garland don’t think that’s hard to understand? You trade for Garland and that’s the all in move vs making a smaller move which could yield the same results.

Point being make a **** move this summer already Weltman

I think Garland alone is better than Suggs/Simons or Suggs/Sexton.

Garland is an extremely good basketball player and is being underrated by this board.

25 year old, 2x all-star point guard signed for the next FOUR years at 26, 25, 24 and 23% of the salary cap.

.600 TS% this past year. Career low in turnover rate. He's excellent and literally exactly what this team lacks.

Completely agree here. Garland is a proven high-level offensive engine who fills the exact void Orlando has struggled with, efficient shot creation, pull-up shooting, and pacing in the halfcourt. You don’t pass on that kind of fit just to hedge with lower-ceiling combos.

[Bensational]

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.

[VFX]

This is CRAZY stuff.

This is the same Jalen Suggs who shot 3/25 from 3PT range in the four games the Magic lost in Cleveland last year. He was a total shrinking no show in all four losses.

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.

[VFX]

This is CRAZY stuff.

This is the same Jalen Suggs who shot 3/25 from 3PT range in the four games the Magic lost in Cleveland last year. He was a total shrinking no show in all four losses.

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.

Paolo shot 40% on 3s in the Cavs series and 44.4 3PT% on 3s in the Boston series.

Franz is a career 85% free throw shooter. Great FT shooters over a career are at worse decent shooters.

Don’t tell me those guys can’t shoot. They’re getting better.

Yeah I dont give a **** about either of them being great free throw shooters.

I care more about how they work together with the same exact skillset and glaring weaknesses within the context of a functional offense.

[RichCollab]

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.

That’s because they are the two core pieces that we are building around.

[Knightro]

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.

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

[MartinsIzAfraud]

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.

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

This is your push all the chips in deal… we’d easily be a 1st apron team and possibly 2nd apron team when Paolo’s deal hits.

At this point I’m just tired of it all and hope the FO does something that makes sense.

[89Magicfan]

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.

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

That’s where I’m like “do it” but there’s also the issue of how he plays in the playoffs.

I’m not against it. I’m just not completely sold that’s the best route to go.

[Knightro]

This is your push all the chips in deal… we’d easily be a 1st apron team and possibly 2nd apron team when Paolo’s deal hits.

At this point I’m just tired of it all and hope the FO does something that makes sense.

When Paolo's deal kicks in for 26-27, Garland only makes $9.7M more than Suggs is set to make. That isn't that wide of a gap.

And depending on what else the Magic would have to kick into the deal, they would very likely still be in a position to make other trades.

[Knightro]

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.

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

That’s where I’m like “do it” but there’s altar issue if how he plays in the playoffs.

I’m not against it. I’m just not completely sold that’s the best route to go.

Suggs the last two years...

23-24 Playoffs: .402 FG, .292 3PT, 20 turnovers to 23 assists
24-25 Playoffs: Didn't play a game because of injuries

Like we're nitpicking Garland's playoff performances when Suggs has that on his resume?

[VFX]

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.

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

Yeah, we should do it then.

Trade Suggs to Cleveland next to Mitchell and Mobely. Orlando never wins a game against that team for the next 5 years.

[Knightro]

Yeah, we should do it then.

Trade Suggs to Cleveland next to Mitchell and Mobely. Orlando never wins a game against that team for the next 5 years.

Scared money don't make money.

Suggs last game this past season was January 25th. From January 26th through the end of the season, a 35 game sample size, the Magic were 4th in defensive rating.

I absolutely love Suggs, but there's evidence the Magic can be a top 5 defense *without* him at this point. Maybe he's the difference between 4th ranked defense and the 1st or 2nd ranked defense, but 4th is good enough and they can still play hard nosed defense without him. They proved it over 35 regular season games and 5 playoff games this past year.

And you of all people, the guy who has bemoaned the lousy offense over and over and over again as loudly as anyone on this board, is balking at the opportunity to add a 21 PPG, 7 APG, .600 TS% guy at the Magic's overwhelming biggest position of need offensively?

Crazy stuff.

[89Magicfan]

Uhhh no. It's not just "let's trade him" - it's let's trade him for a 25-year-old, 2x all-star point guard who was 21 PPG and 7 APG on a .600 TS% this past year across 75 games.

The Magic would unquestionably be getting the better player in the deal and people are still balking?

That’s where I’m like “do it” but there’s altar issue if how he plays in the playoffs.

I’m not against it. I’m just not completely sold that’s the best route to go.

Suggs the last two years...

23-24 Playoffs: .402 FG, .292 3PT, 20 turnovers to 23 assists
24-25 Playoffs: Didn't play a game because of injuries

Like we're nitpicking Garland's playoff performances when Suggs has that on his resume?

I understand but to be fair one season was injuries reason not performance issue.

[Knightro]

I understand but to be fair one season was injuries reason not performance issue.

So we're not giving Garland grace for coming back way too quickly from a foot injury and playing poorly against Indiana, but we're giving Suggs a pass for missing 50+ games with a serious injury?

I don't think that's fair.

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

I *strongly* agree with Chris Finch here.

Ball handling and passing can unlock shooting a whole lot more than shooting can unlock ball handling and ball movement.

[89Magicfan]

I understand but to be fair one season was injuries reason not performance issue.

So we're not giving Garland grace for coming back way too quickly from a foot injury and playing poorly against Indiana, but we're giving Suggs a pass for missing 50+ games with a serious injury?

I don't think that's fair.

I’m not knowledgeable to his situation. It’s why I’m on the fence.

[eyriq]

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.