Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Orlando Magic Receive: PG Darius Garland, G/F Jaylon Tyson
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Jalen Suggs, C Wendell Carter Jr., G Cole Anthony
The Orlando Magic got better this summer by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from the Denver Nuggets, yet they still didn’t solve the franchise’s No. 1 issue.
This team needs a true point guard, someone who can orchestrate the offense, set the table for others and still be able to shoot. As Paolo Banchero told Ben Golliver of the Washington Post, “I would rather be more of an offensive hub than the point guard, if that makes sense.”
Signing Caldwell-Pope to be the team’s starting shooting guard means Jalen Suggs will be playing point guard full-time after he averaged just 2.7 assists per game last season. After finishing 22nd in offense (112.9 rating) and 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.68), this Magic scoring attack could look clunky at times.
Darius Garland is the perfect solution, a 24-year-old who can grow with the franchise and has averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 assists and shot 38.9 percent from three over the past three seasons.
A starting five of Garland, Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Banchero and Jonathan Isaac with Anthony Black, Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva, Tyson (the Cavs’ first-round pick this summer), Goga Bitadze and others would make the Magic a force in the East for the next decade.
For the Cavaliers, Suggs would be the perfect backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell with his size (6’5″), defense and three-point shooting (39.7 percent). Mitchell played point guard for stretches last season with Garland out and thrived in the role.
Carter’s three-point shooting (37.4 percent) would allow him to play alongside both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and the Cavs can use Anthony as a sixth man behind Mitchell and Suggs. Cleveland would be deeper and better defensively with a starting five of Mitchell, Suggs, Max Strus, Mobley and Allen with Anthony, Carter, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill and others rounding out the rotation.
