Every young NBA player would like to avoid the dreaded “bust” label. Nobody wants to be a bust. These players enter the NBA with high expectations for themselves. The goal is to avoid falling short of those expectations.
For lottery picks, that holds even truer. They enter the NBA with sky-high expectations. Sometimes, they don’t meet them. It’s an unfortunate reality, but the fact is, every lottery pick won’t meet expectations. Some lottery picks will bust.
Will Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic bust? We wouldn’t go that far. His career is too young to write off. Still, he’s not on the right track. Meanwhile, the Magic have a surplus of young guards. Could they cut ties with Suggs early by sending him to the Minnesota Timberwolves?
The Trade Proposal
Orlando Magic Receive: F/C Naz Reid
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Jalen Suggs, F Chuma Okeke
With that said, a change of scenery can do wonders for an NBA player. It’s always possible that they simply weren’t a good fit with the first team they landed on. A move to a new team could end up being everything that they’ve needed.
Sometimes, that’s because they’ve got a unique skill set. If a player has even one gap in their game, it’s possible that they’ll need the right roster around them. With the right pieces complementing them, they could suddenly start to succeed.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Take Suggs. He’s a strong defender with great floor vision. He’s not a very good shooter. That’s the only hole in his game, but it’s a major one. Do the Timberwolves have the right roster to compensate for that shortcoming?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
Yes. That’s why we’re writing this piece. Think about it. What does a lead ball-handler with a broken jump shot need? A stretch big man. The Wolves happen to have the best stretch big in the NBA. With Karl-Anthony Towns spacing the floor, Suggs should be able to thrive.
Of course, he may be a questionable fit alongside Rudy Gobert. That’s fine. Mike Conley could hold down the starting spot for now, and Suggs could thrive in lineups where Towns plays the 5. If this works out, it should make the Timberwolves a better team.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Yet, this is also about the future. The Wolves are at a crossroads, but if they do decide to move Towns and build around Edwards, this makes even more sense. Meanwhile, if Suggs’ shot does develop, he could be a huge steal at this price. Should the Magic risk giving him away?
Why The Orlando Magic Do The Deal
We’ve got some simple reasons why the Magic would do this deal. Anthony Black. Markelle Fultz. Cole Anthony. How many young point guards does this team need? How many with subpar jump shots can they handle?
The Magic don’t have to move Suggs. Still, in time, they should move one of these players. Meanwhile, they could use some more spacing in their frontcourt. A combo big who spaces the floor would be especially helpful. Reid fits that description precisely.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Meanwhile, he’s still young enough for the future-focused Magic. This team is trying to thread a needle between improving and building toward long-term contention. Adding Reid on a long-term, team-friendly contract would be a step in the right direction. If Suggs ends up being a bust, they’ll be even happier to have made the move.
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