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The New Orleans Pelicans have been searching for ways to fix their defense this offseason. Perhaps the answer could be found in the same place that they found their new head coach.
Jalen Suggs was the fifth overall pick back in 2021, coming off a great run with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. That was the first season that Jamahl Mosley coached the Orlando Magic. While Suggs hasn't turned into a "superstar" under this staff, they have turned him into one of the best defensive players in basketball.
This isn't the type of talent that is always available on the market, but people in NBA circles have believed that the Magic could move Suggs soon, as they have to worry about extending Anthony Black. They'll likely pick between the two rather than paying both, and Black has a little more upside.
Suggs is going into the second year of a five-year, $150.5 million contract, accounting for 19% of the cap at $32.4 million. That number will drop by 2% each year, as it was front-loaded, which works out perfectly for whoever trades for him. Orlando paid him $35 million last year, and it will be down to $26.7 million by the end.
The 25-year-old is a super smart player, a great athlete, and also had a positive impact on the offensive side of the ball last year. Offense isn't his greatest strength, but he is a versatile player, which could make him a perfect guard to add next to Jeremiah Fears in the long run. Suggs can react just as well as he can run an offense.
The biggest downside that the Pelicans would see in going after Suggs would be his shooting. He has career 42.3/33.1/79.2 shooting splits. They'll need to find what worked a few years ago when he shot 47.1/39.7/75.6 on 5.1 threes a game. He was also named to the All-Defense second team that year.
That doesn't matter for New Orleans. They need people who buy into the defense. Getting someone who knows exactly what Mosley and his crew want to accomplish could help, especially one who has benefited so much from them on that side of the ball, utilizing his athleticism well.
It might seem hard to imagine paying him $32 million right now, but that's around the same amount as Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray. Poole makes sense as a trade piece with salary filler, as he is making more than Suggs at $34.4 million. Getting that money off the books along with some protected draft capital could get the job done if that's the route the Magic go for. It would at least get the conversation started.
Continue reading...
Jalen Suggs was the fifth overall pick back in 2021, coming off a great run with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. That was the first season that Jamahl Mosley coached the Orlando Magic. While Suggs hasn't turned into a "superstar" under this staff, they have turned him into one of the best defensive players in basketball.
This isn't the type of talent that is always available on the market, but people in NBA circles have believed that the Magic could move Suggs soon, as they have to worry about extending Anthony Black. They'll likely pick between the two rather than paying both, and Black has a little more upside.
Suggs is going into the second year of a five-year, $150.5 million contract, accounting for 19% of the cap at $32.4 million. That number will drop by 2% each year, as it was front-loaded, which works out perfectly for whoever trades for him. Orlando paid him $35 million last year, and it will be down to $26.7 million by the end.
The 25-year-old is a super smart player, a great athlete, and also had a positive impact on the offensive side of the ball last year. Offense isn't his greatest strength, but he is a versatile player, which could make him a perfect guard to add next to Jeremiah Fears in the long run. Suggs can react just as well as he can run an offense.
The biggest downside that the Pelicans would see in going after Suggs would be his shooting. He has career 42.3/33.1/79.2 shooting splits. They'll need to find what worked a few years ago when he shot 47.1/39.7/75.6 on 5.1 threes a game. He was also named to the All-Defense second team that year.
That doesn't matter for New Orleans. They need people who buy into the defense. Getting someone who knows exactly what Mosley and his crew want to accomplish could help, especially one who has benefited so much from them on that side of the ball, utilizing his athleticism well.
It might seem hard to imagine paying him $32 million right now, but that's around the same amount as Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray. Poole makes sense as a trade piece with salary filler, as he is making more than Suggs at $34.4 million. Getting that money off the books along with some protected draft capital could get the job done if that's the route the Magic go for. It would at least get the conversation started.
Continue reading...
