The Orlando Magic acquired two key players with lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, but a new scenario changes the outlook of what could have been.
The Orlando Magic made the most of the 2021 NBA Draft, picking up two key players In Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner in the first round.
Coming off a bad season that produced just 21 wins; Orlando received two lottery picks (No. 5 and No. 8). The front office used the fifth pick on Suggs and the eighth pick on Wagner, but what if things turned out differently? Recently, Bleacher Report reconstructed the 2021 draft based on player performance up to this point, and Wagner was placed at No. 5.
Furthermore, Bleacher Report had the Magic take New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy with the eighth pick. Jalen Suggs also never arrives in Orlando, instead landing with the Sacramento Kings with the ninth pick in the draft.
“Franz Wagner has never needed an efficient three-ball to wreak havoc on the offensive end,” the outlet wrote. “His meld of on-ball shiftiness and physicality is tough to guard even when throwing the kitchen sink at him.”
“Both his defense and secondary playmaking remain underappreciated. Putting him at No. 5 comes across as borderline foolish when he's canning more than 40 percent of his treys.”
It is safe to say Wagner has developed into the Magic’s second option behind Paolo Banchero, making him a pillar piece of the team’s success.
A hypothetical addition of Murphy to the current Magic roster fits the mold of long, athletic players that president of basketball of operations Jeff Weltman has often pursued. His versatility and ability to knock down perimeter shots through his first four seasons compelled Bleacher Report to move him to the No. 8 pick, significantly ahead of his No. 17 selection.
“Billed as a high-volume flame-thrower from long range, Trey Murphy is so much more,” it wrote. “He has the coordination to rain jumpers off the dribble and keeps defenses on tilt inside the arc with pump-and-drives and timely cuts. Even though his efficiency has waned to start this year, defenses gravitate towards him in transition and when he's coming around a ball screen.
“It says a lot about him—and, frankly, the New Orleans Pelicans overall—that the half-court offense has looked so much better when he's in the game, onset struggles and all.”
Finally, Bleacher report takes Jalen Suggs out of Central Florida and places him in Northern California. The Kings had the 27th ranked defense in the 2021-22 season, so adding a gifted on-ball defender in Suggs may have alleviated some of their troubles. Despite struggling with injuries, Bleacher Report believes in Suggs’ ability.
“All-world defense is Jalen Suggs' claim to fame,” it wrote. “Prior to last year's knee injury, though, he added more reliable shooting, driving and head-up live-dribble playmaking to his game.”
“Limited minutes have looked so-so on Suggs to start this season. The last year or so contributes to his slide. Keeping him firmly inside the top 10 is a bet on his eventual return to full form—at which time he could challenge for a spot in the top six.”