Orlando Magic 2021 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: Sorting through the tiers

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Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Jalen Suggs had the moment of the NCAA Tournament, helping Gonzaga survive in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando Magic Big Board Tier II

The Best of the Rest

4

Jalen Suggs G

Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga Bulldogs

UP 1

Jalen Suggs perhaps had the best run in the NCAA Tournament of anyone. He had the huge moment when he hit the half-court shot that sent then-undefeated Gonzaga to the national championship game of the NCAA Tournament. There is certainly a fair argument — the emphasis this league puts on wings chief among them — that Suggs should go ahead of Mobley.

Suggs averaged 14.4 points per game and dished 4.5 assists per game last season. In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 14.5 points per game and 4.7 assists per game. The big games can color how consistent Suggs was in the entire tournament compared to his season.

The reason why there is some caution with Suggs is that he is not a true point guard. Suggs is a gifted scorer off the dribble and can finish at the basket well. But his shooting and distributing are questionable in the big picture. Or at least, questionable enough to get him knocked below a few of these elite prospects.

Do not get it wrong, Suggs is a very good player. Even if he is not a surefire All-Star or All-Star talent, Suggs is going to be very good in this league. No one should be upset about him.

5

Jonathan Kuminga F

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic

DOWN 2

Jonathan Kuminga appears to have fallen behind his peers in this widely considered consensus top-five.

Kuminga had a solid season with the G-League Ignite, but it was not stellar by any means. He even missed the last few games with an injury. Others just looked a whole lot better. And the Orlando Magic’s needs have changed some with Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke and a second top-10 pick with a likely wing player or bigger forward also in the running.

The Magic should not turn away from Kuminga if he is available to them. Kuminga has an NBA-ready body and is already looking like a strong defender. He had some impressive showings in the G-League bubble nonetheless. A lot of that because he physically could handle it.

Kuminga is especially good at using that strength to get downhill and to the basket. He is a freight train going to the rim.

But his jumper needs a lot more consistency. And the time in the G-League bubble did not dissuade that inconsistency. Proponents for Kuminga would say that his fundamentals are fine and that with more practice and work, he can be a skilled shooter. If that is the case, he should pass Jalen Suggs with his physicality and talent.

That will be something he has to prove in individual workouts (which he is reportedly spending a lot of time in Orlando doing as he prepares for the next phase of the draft process).