How Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner can get ahead of the roster competition

Orlando Magic Draft Pick Fits

Jalen Suggs

Jalen Suggs is joining a roster filled with talented young guards. Markelle Fultz could be back in time for the start of the season, while Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton will be looking to build on their heavily disrupted rookie seasons.

On top of that, there are the older crop of guards — Gary Harris, Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams. This team needs some veterans to help the younger guys get better, so it is not quite as simple as giving all the available minutes to the young players.

No doubt there will be some movement on the roster prior to the season, with The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reporting that the New York Knicks have discussed a trade with the Magic for Ross. He is not the only one reporting that interest.

But on a guard-heavy roster, Suggs will need to demonstrate he is a better option than those already on the team by excelling in some key areas.

Command of the game

Perhaps the biggest quality in a point guard is how well they can dictate the game. Chris Paul is the master at this, consistently making the right decisions with the ball and understanding when he needs to create his own shot or one for a teammate.

Suggs proved himself as a leader on the court during his time at Gonzaga. He played a bit on the ball and off it but had plenty of chance to run the offense, winning plaudits for his unselfish play and willingness to make the extra pass. His speed with the ball helped him to push the pace on offense.

Scouts talked about this a lot in relation to his play as a football quarterback in high school. Suggs was gaining offers for his football exploits before opting for basketball.

While Anthony offered plenty to be positive about last season in Fultz’s absence, particularly after coming back from his injury, Fultz still has to be considered the first choice at the point as it stands.

Fultz’s control of the game is clear to see. He plays the game at his own pace, waiting patiently for the right decision to become clear. And he often makes it, something Anthony is still working on.

The former number one pick averaged 5.1 assists per game to just 2.0 turnovers per game in the 2020 season. He was on a similar trajectory before his injury last season. Fultz has a clear understanding of what he needs to do on offense, even if he and the team have not always executed. He is someone that can be trusted to run things.

This is what Suggs also has to prove to his new coach if he is to move off Fultz as the team’s primary creator and offensive initiator. All the signs leading up to now suggesting he can do this.

Suggs’ turnovers were a bit higher than he would have liked at just a tad less than three per game in college, but he initiated the offense on one of the best college teams in the country with his excellent passing ability.

Ultimately, Suggs has to be given the opportunity to show what he can do in a lead, starting role next season.

Shooting

Perhaps the biggest area Jalen Suggs can set himself apart from the competition is whether he can shoot the ball well, particularly from beyond the arc.

None of the Orlando Magic’s point guard options have been able to shoot the ball reliably. Markelle Fultz’s unorthodox jump shot is a big cause for concern, while Cole Anthony had a streaky shooting season in his rookie year including runs of games where he did not manage to make a three.

R.J. Hampton showed a willingness to shoot but still has a long way to go before becoming consistent. And Michael Carter-Williams can pretty much be deemed a non-shooter at this point.

Suggs has a huge chance to cement his place as the starting point guard by becoming a good shooter. From deep, he still needs to become more proficient having made 33.7-percent of his 3-pointers in college, but there is a lot to be encouraged about based on his shot mechanics.

As a combo guard, it is likely we might see Suggs used a lot as a shooting guard early in his career. It is another spot where he can get ahead of the competition, with Gary Harris not proving to be reliable as a shooter — going 36.5-percent from the field for the Magic last season. Terrence Ross will likely continue to be used in a sixth man role again next year if he is not traded.

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Behind the Buck Pass

At present, Suggs is solid offensively but does not excel at any one thing. The most effective way he can score is by getting his head down and accelerating to the rim thanks to his strength and speed, something the Magic’s other point guards are also capable of.

Focusing on improving his shooting consistency will be key to his development, as will expanding his shot-creating and shot-making ability to become confident off the dribble. It will be a key step towards becoming an All-Star level talent, and the Magic’s number one point guard in the short term.

Defensive reliability

Jalen Suggs’ offensive growth is of the utmost importance, but it is also vital he can show a sturdiness on defense.

This is something Markelle Fultz has demonstrated. His intelligence on offense carries across to defense through his sense of where to be. He has shown he can effectively guard some of the better players at his position.

But he is not a top-level NBA defender. From the evidence of his college performances, Suggs can be someone that exceeds what Fultz can do on defense.

His speed and athleticism is a massive reason why. He has the lateral quickness to adjust to opponents’ movements and limit what they can do. Suggs also caught the eye with some huge blocked shots at Gonzaga helped by his leaping ability and knowledge of where to be on defense.

His defensive intelligence also helps him to get steals — recording 1.9 per game at Gonzaga. His enormous potential as a two-way combo guard is something coach Jamahl Mosley will have to think deeply about when considering who to start. Michael Carter-Williams is great on defense but poor on offense, while Cole Anthony might be an offensive threat but was below average defensively last year.

There is a huge opportunity for Suggs to nudge ahead of his fellow guards, though R.J> Hampton, another supremely athletic combo guard, has a lot of defensive potential too. Meanwhile Gary Harris is a terrific on-ball defender. At the two spot, though, Suggs can contribute more offensively than these two while being excellent defensively.

There is no doubt Suggs can become a great defensive guard, and there is a lot of opportunity ahead whether at the one or the two spot. Making strides with his shooting and proving he can initiate an NBA offense will cement him as a starter in the near future, and possibly more than that in the future.