During the NBA’s offseason, a market starts to take shape. There are buyers, and there are sellers. Typically, the league’s buyers are the teams that think they could compete for the title next season. By contrast, sellers are teams that are preparing to look toward the future.
Some teams land in the middle. They’ve got enough talent on their roster to justify competing. On the other hand, their title odds are slim enough that they could also justify rebuilding.
Take the Toronto Raptors. This team entered the summer in that exact grey area. With that said, Fred VanVleet departed for the Houston Rockets in free agency. Now, the Raptors need their point guard of the future. Could it be Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic?
The Trade Proposal
Orlando Magic Receive: F/C Thaddeus Young, 2026 First-Round Pick (TOR)
Toronto Raptors Receive: G Jalen Suggs
Meanwhile, every team is somewhere in the “rebuilding cycle”. That status will usually inform the decisions that they make. When a team is contending, they’ve got a window. When that window appears to be shut, they need to make a choice. Should they move players while they’ve still got peak value, or see if they can right the ship?
It wasn’t so long ago that the Raptors were contenders. In fact, they won the 2018-19 NBA championship. Still, in the years that have followed, the Raptors’ window has been gradually closing.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Toronto Raptors & Orlando Magic Updates
On the other hand, the Magic haven’t had a contending window open in a long time. The last time this team looked like they had a shot at the title, Dwight Howard was in his prime. Is it time for them to start contending?
Why The Orlando Magic Do The Deal
The framing here is actually debatable. This deal has Orlando moving a player for a pick – technically, they’re the sellers here. It just so happens that the player in question is young. Meanwhile, don’t sell Thaddeus Young short. He could be a contributor in Orlando next season.
Young is nearing retirement. He’ll only play spot minutes. Still, he can stretch the floor and provide some solid defense for brief stretches.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Toronto Raptors & Orlando Magic Updates
Still, that’s not the point here. More than anything, the Magic are trading Suggs for a first-round pick. They’re also clearing the runway for Markelle Fultz and Anthony Black. Orlando has a logjam of young point guards, and Suggs has been a little disappointing to date. Should the Raptors take a chance on him?
Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
This is a bold decision for the Raptors. Giving up a first-round pick in their position won’t be easy. Realistically, it will depend on what they see in Suggs. Sure, he’s been a bit underwhelming through his first two seasons in the NBA. At the same time, he’s flashed potential.
Specifically, Suggs is already a strong defender. He’s also a good playmaker with solid floor vision. The Raptors could see something in the recent lottery pick.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Toronto Raptors & Orlando Magic Updates
If they do, they should add him to their young core. Suggs could grow with draft classmate Scottie Barnes to give the Raptors a foundation for the future. If they click, this team could be buyers before long.
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