The Washington Wizards finally did it. NBA fans have been waiting for this moment. It finally came. The Wizards traded Bradley Beal. Now, he’s a member of the Phoenix Suns.
Plenty of folks around the league have long held that the Wizards would be better off rebuilding. This team has been stuck in the middle for a long time. That’s a place that the Orlando Magic found themselves in for a long time as well. During the Nikola Vucevic years, the Magic were usually solid – and never great.
A couple of years ago, Orlando bit the same bullet by trading Vucevic. After some seasons in the lottery, this team looks like they’re ready to take a major step forward. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if Orlando swings a major trade soon. Could they start by sending Jalen Suggs to the Wizards?
The Trade Proposal
Orlando Magic Receive: G Tyus Jones
Washington Wizards Receive: G Jalen Suggs, F Chuma Okeke
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules about how to manage an NBA team. If teams prefer to stay competitive at any cost, that’s a justifiable philosophy. Still, they risk landing in the mediocrity treadmill.
Others will say that’s the worst place that a team can be in. To be sure, it can be grating on a fanbase. Look at the Wizards. This team has been drafting in the 8th to 10th range for seasons on end. As a result, Washington is continuously adding mediocre-to-solid young players that can’t transform their franchise.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Washington Wizards Updates
That trend ought to stop next season. The Wizards ought to be among the worst teams in the NBA. With that said, they’ve still got some solid players who might be better used as trade chips. Jones is among them. Should they flip him for Suggs?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
We think so. This trade wouldn’t be legal at the moment. The Wizards only recently acquired Jones. That’s fine. At the moment, he’s among the most underrated players in the NBA. Washington should take a half-season to showcase him as a starter before moving him.
If he meets expectations, this would feel like a fair return. Of course, if Suggs is having a breakthrough, Orlando may pass. Still, even if he isn’t, Suggs is a young player with more potential than Jones. The rebuilding Wizards should be happy to land him – even if it makes them worst in the short term.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Washington Wizards Updates
In fact, that’s a benefit here. The Wizards don’t only do this deal to add a young player with upside. They also do it to bottom out. If they want to land a top lottery pick next summer, flipping Jones for Suggs ought to help. Should Orlando abandon their own lottery pursuit?
Why The Orlando Magic Do The Deal
Absolutely. The Magic cannot be thinking about the lottery next season. This team has enough blue chip talent. It’s time for the Magic to take a step forward.
Partly, that’s going to mean sorting out their guard rotation. Between Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony, the Magic have a glut of intriguing young point guards. Meanwhile, not one of them is a reliable floor spacer. Something is going to have to give here.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Washington Wizards Updates
Jones is a reliable floor spacer. He also leads the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio on a near-annual basis. He’d be the perfect player to complement Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. If the Magic make this move, they may find themselves back in the playoff hunt – finally.
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