The Orlando Magic’s 2021 NBA Draft Lottery wasn’t a disaster, but it also wasn’t a huge triumph. Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier were traded to the Bulls, Nuggets, and Celtics, respectively, as the Magic (finally) began their reconstruction ahead of the trade deadline. As a result, Orlando was able to position itself favorably before the ping-pong balls started to bounce, and as a result, Orlando received the No. 5 pick (their own) and the No. 8 pick (from Chicago).
Those two picks will undoubtedly aid Orlando’s future roster development, but the Magic did not vault into the top four to give a path to a more certain-fire talent. Aside from that, this is a roster with some fascinating young talent, but Orlando lacks a lead offensive option, and health difficulties, particularly with Jon Isaac, contributed significantly to the team’s dreadful performance in 2020-21. Overall, this is a familiar situation for a franchise that has appeared to be rebuilding for a long time, but Orlando does have options, which begin with the selection on Thursday.
A No. 1 (and maybe No. 2) offensive option, Isaac and Fultz’s health, and at least one more winger are all needed on the roster.
Suggs, Jalen (No. 5 Overall), A+ grade.
Suggs would have been my fourth-round pick, and the Magic profit from his (little) slide. With Markelle Fultz, RJ Hampton, and Cole Anthony in the backcourt, Orlando has a few intriguing options, but Suggs is a better prospect than any of them. Furthermore, this is a “best player available” decision that also fills a need, as Orlando still lacks a reliable primary creator at this point. Suggs’ ceiling isn’t very high, but he has the potential to be a very good player for a long time.
