The 2023 NBA Draft is right around the corner, giving the Orlando Magic, who hold the sixth, 11th, and 36th picks, several possibilities to consider. There’s no way to know who will be available once the Magic are on the clock on Thursday night, but there are certain scenarios the front office can consider.
Entering the draft, the Magic have a lottery talent at each position on the roster, from point guard to center. This team is stacked with potential, just waiting to develop.
Yet, Orlando also has three selections, two of which are in the lottery again. So where do all the pieces fit? Especially if they stand pat at No. 6 and add yet another top-ten pick into a rotation that arguably already doesn’t have enough minutes to go around when it comes to fair development.
But according to Yahoo’s NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Magic could even consider selecting a player like point guard Anthony Black with their top pick. Under this scenario, the Orlando front office has indicated that a player like Jalen Suggs or Cole Anthony could then be on the trade block.
If so, it would be a significant development for Suggs, who, as the fifth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is currently viewed as a key building block in Orlando next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Suggs is still just 22 and greatly improved as a shooter last season, jumping from an eFG% of 40% up to 49%.
Meanwhile, Anthony started just four out of his 60 appearances last season but had a slight uptick in minutes compared to Suggs and is still just 23 himself. Trading either player would be a tough call, but if the right offer came along, plus Black’s possible added presence, it would be hard to argue against considering such a move.
Related: Los Angeles Lakers reportedly increasingly likely to make big trade during 2023 NBA Draft