Bleacher Report’s blockbuster proposal sends Tyler Herro to Orlando, potentially sacrificing defensive grit for elite perimeter spacing to bolster Paolo Banchero and the Magic’s stagnant offense.
The Orlando Magic have clearly reached a point in their roster construction where it feels like three-point shooting can never be a bad thing after consistently recording some of the worst perimeter offensive efficiency ratings in the league over the past several seasons, even with the addition of Desmond Bane last offseason.
It's clear the Magic have struggled to address this issue. Even through attempting to add a floor-general point guard, the most recent failed experiment being Tyus Jones. Is it time for the Magic to abandon that experiment altogether and continue surrounding Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner with consistent three-point shooting threats?
Bleacher Report recently suggested an absolute blockbuster trade that would shake up Orlando's core, sending Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro.
“Plugging Herro into the Magic backcourt alongside Desmond Bane would help improve the team's outside shooting,” Bleacher Report wrote. “Playmaking and put more pressure on opposing defenses overall.”
At first glance, the trade doesn't make much sense for the Magic, trading a defensive anchor in Suggs for another ball-dominant scorer in Herro. However, there is an argument to be made. As a career 38.2 percent three-point shooter, transitioning into more of an off-ball role could suit Herro well and help address one of Orlando's biggest weaknesses.
The problem is consistency. Trading one player who has battled injuries throughout his career for another player with his own injury concerns doesn't necessarily solve the Magic's issues when it comes to building continuity throughout an 82-game season.
On the latest episode of Full Court Magic, I discussed why I'm skeptical the Magic will finally be able to solve their need for a true playmaking guard and whether the better path forward is simply continuing to surround their core with shooters.
"I'm gonna have to say with this point guard experiment with the Magic, I'm not sure if they're ever gonna figure it out," Cherico said. "I don't think they're ever gonna get that play-making point guard, Don. I just think the way that this team is built, who it's surrounded by, that's just not the system that they have going for them. In my opinion, I think you've seen what the Magic get when they try to go for the lower tier play-making point guards, just people who aren't really serviceable for what they're running, for their system.
"I do think it's time that the Magic move on from getting a play-making point guard and just go all-in surrounding Paolo and Franz with 3-and-D shooters," Cherico added. "Have two shooting guards at the point guard, shooting guard spot, have Franz and Paolo running the ball up the court."
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