Grade the Trade: Bucks add former top-five pick in trade with Magic

Mar 7, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) shoots a three point basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) shoots a three point basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Grayson Allen, Joe Ingles, Khris Middleton, Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs
Mar 7, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic’s perspective on this trade with the Milwaukee Bucks

Orlando doesn’t have a point guard of the future; trading away Suggs would make a lot of sense.  A point guard by trade, the Magic have been placing Suggs as a shooting guard, which isn’t his natural position.

At Gonzaga, he was a guy who could make the perfect pass while being efficient from the field.

The NBA has been a whole different story. Suggs hasn’t thrived being on a bad Magic team, and giving him a change of scenery would be ideal for both sides, and Orlando could get a shooter in return.

The Magic acquiring Pat Connaughton would be the perfect deal. Orlando needs more shooters to space the floor. The Magic shot 34.6 percent last season from three (one of the worst marks in the league.) They have tried solving their outside shooting deficiencies by adding Joe Ingles in NBA Free Agency and drafting Jett Howard from Michigan who shot 36 percent last season.

Connaughton is a 35 percent career 3-point shooter: acquiring a veteran like him along with the young talent on the team would be a good move for Orlando.

As for the draft picks, Orlando needs as much talent as they can get so if that means building through the draft, they should do so to get out of the long rebuild they are in.