Subscribe
Follow Us
The Orlando Magic entered the 2021-22 NBA season without any lofty expectations. After trading away All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and former no. 4 pick Aaron Gordon at last season's trade deadline, the Magic directed their ship towards a full on rebuild.
If their main goal this season was to secure more ping pong balls in the 2022 NBA draft lottery, they are having a successful campaign so far. Orlando sits at the bottom of the entire the Association with a 13-47 mark. While doing so, they have also put their focus on developing their young talent.
Despite struggling in January, Cole Anthony is having a solid sophomore campaign so far. The 21-year old is leading the Magic in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game. Meanwhile, 2021 8th overall pick Franz Wagner is having a promising rookie season. He may not be making as much noise as some of the other rookies like Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, or Scottie Barnes, but the former Michigan standout has been much better than expected in his debut campaign. In 60 games, Wagner leads the team in total points (935) and is second in points per game (15.6).
Surprisingly, he's been the better rookie out of their two lottery picks in the draft despite getting selected later. That's why this Magic rookie may have something to prove with 22 games remaining on the schedule.
Magic player with most to prove after 2022 All-Star break
If you haven't guess it yet, that player is Jalen Suggs. When Orlando drafted Suggs with the no. 5 overall pick, many believed he would be the guy who will finally get the Magic back to relevance. However, unlike some of his peers taken in the top-5, the former Gonzaga star has had an underwhelming rookie season to say the least.
In 39 games, Suggs has averaged 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting to go along with horrible percentages of 36.7 percent from the field and 22.8 percent from three. The 20-year old also suffered a fractured right thumb midway through the season that forced him to miss 20 straight games.
Upon his return from injury, it looked like Suggs was ready to take flight for the Magic. In his first seven games back, he averaged 14.7 points, scoring in double-figures in each game, and shot 48.1 percent from the field. But like with any young player, he came back down to earth and had an up-and-down next stretch of games before finishing with three straight double-digit scoring outings before the All-Star break.
Despite a subpar beginning to his pro career, there is still time for Suggs to turn his rookie season around. He's shown to be a dynamic guard in the open floor, possessing an explosive burst in transition. Suggs is able to use his combination of a quick first step and strength to penetrate defenses and get to the basket. He has shown a knack of going early in the offense and catching defenses sleeping. His elite ability in attacking the paint, which should open up his game more as his career progresses.
As good as Cole Anthony and Franz Wagner have been this season, no one on this Magic roster has as high an upside as Suggs. That's why they should do everything they can to let him loose for the rest of his rookie campaign.
