5 questions the Orlando Magic face in the fourth quarter of the 2022 season

Orlando Magic: 5 questions for the fourth quarter

How will the Orlando Magic’s rookies finish the year?

So much of the Orlando Magic’s season this year is about their growth and development. It makes sense the rookies — Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner — are the biggest center of focus. They have always been the most consequential players for the season. And their development should have as much priority as it can.

Wagner has been outstanding all season. He is averaging 15.6 points per game while posting a 52.1-percent effective field goal percentage and 56.1-percent true shooting percentage. Wagner is leading or near the lead for almost every statistical category among rookies.

The biggest complaint when it comes to Wagner is that he is often not involved enough offensively. He is averaging 12.7 field goal attempts per game and a 21.1-percent usage rate. It still feels like he sometimes gets ignored — like how he scored only four points in the fourth quarter and overtime of Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Jalen Suggs’ development has been the trickier proposition.

He is averaging 12.5 points per game and 4.5 assists per game. But he is shooting just 36.6-percent from the floor and 22.6-percent from beyond the arc. It is hardly a dominating performance.

Since returning from his thumb injury, Suggs is averaging 12.7 points per game and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 39.3-percent from the floor and just 18.7-percent from beyond the arc.

Suggs is playing better despite the worse shooting numbers and seemingly flat stats. He is playing with more patience and poise and his passing has gotten more precise. Suggs is a big part of why the Magic are pushing the pace so much more as he has taken over more lead ball-handling duties.

Suggs has already shown he can get to the basket whenever he wants. He just has to finish more consistently when he gets there. That is something the Magic have to hope he can develop.

The Magic need to see some consistency from him. They need to see some signs he can still be the player they ultimately imagine. There have been a few signs but hardly enough to affirm his potential stardom.

The roles Magic fans imagined for their two rookies have flipped.

Wagner seems like the one who could potentially turn into a star. While Suggs could become the solid role player.

It is unfair to either player to set expectations that are too high or too low at this point. Both players should get an offseason to improve on their skills and absorb everything they have learned from their rookie seasons.

This is not the end. But the Magic want to see both of their rookies have a strong finish so those limitless possibilities can continue.