Not enough point guards. It is a problem that Magic fans know all too well. We still shudder over the thought of starting DJ Augustin and Shelvin Mack as our lead ball handlers, a fear many teams have, but a reality for Orlando not even four years ago. The point guard position was our number one hole on our roster, inhibiting a team of all-star Nikola Vucevic, scoring threat Evan Fournier, and athletic freak Aaron Gordon from ever making a deep playoff run. We needed to fill that hole if we ever wanted to be taken seriously as a basketball team. And sure enough, we did fill that hole. And we filled it again. And again. And again.
Now the Orlando Magic face a different, yet similar problem: the team that had very few options at point guards not too long ago now has far too many of them. It will be difficult for new head coach Jamahl Mosley to divide up playing time between all of our point guards and decide which of them to start. At least one will have to play shooting guard in order to even make this minutes distribution work. Fortunately, these point guards have plenty of talent, but only two of them can be starters, one of whom will have to play out of position. Who will it be? We don’t know. It’s more than likely that the starting lineup will change throughout the season, meaning that those coveted starter spots will always be up for grabs. But out of all of our point guards, four of them have a realistic shot to earn one of those spots and become a starter.
COLE ANTHONY
None of our point guards last year had as much of an impact on our team as Cole Anthony did. The second-year guard from the University of North Carolina filled the starting point guard spot throughout the the season after Markelle Fultz went down with his season ending knee injury. In the process Cole Anthony became a fan-favorite and locker room delight in the process. But Anthony is more than just a likable guy; he’s a very talented basketball player too. The son of former NBA veteran Greg Anthony was ranked by ESPN as the second-best high school senior in the nation a few years ago, an impressive feat that helped convince Jeff Weltman and the Orlando Magic that he was worth being selected fifteenth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Anthony fought for a starter spot last year, and when finally given that chance, he did not disappoint. Anthony enjoyed the limelight and never shied away from a tough basket, even hitting not one, but two game-winners as a mere rookie. But he certainly did not play like a rookie last season. With the ball in his hands, Cole Anthony made true magic in Orlando. He had a knack for scoring the ball and has potential to become a three-level scorer one day. He’s that good, as is his ability to captivate an entire arena and make them wonder what kind of crazy shot he was going to make next.
But what is not that good, at least for right now, is his durability. Anthony missed considerable time last season due to a rib injury, which sat him out for two months. It was only one injury, sure, but it still raises a potential concern. If Cole Anthony were to win a starting gig, would he be able to keep it? The injury raised a few doubts about his durability, but the passage of time has made it less of a concern. But what is a pressing concern, however, was his underwhelming performance during last month’s Summer League. Of course, the Summer League is not a perfect indicator of how a player will perform during the season, but Anthony only averaged 7.5 points on 29% shooting in those four games, a noticeable downgrade from how he played last season. Those numbers are concerning for an NBA starter, but for a Summer League starter? While playing against lesser competition? That should absolutely be taken note of. But that is the thing, it is the Summer League and not the regular season. It is entirely possible that he just plays better against stronger opponents, as suggested by his impressive rookie season. He will be a core asset to the Orlando Magic next season, and winning a starter spot would unequivocally give him more opportunities to score the ball.
MARKELLE FULTZ
The past five years have been a rollercoaster for Markelle Fultz. From becoming the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to becoming a laughingstock as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Fultz has seen it all. Admiration, adoration, love, disapproval, scorn, hate, every single form of praise or criticism imaginable was given at some point to the former college basketball star who never panned out the way fans thought he would. But despite the memes and attacks the NBA community gave him, Markelle Fultz knew that he was still one of the best basketball players in the world. He just needed a chance to prove himself, one he would eventually get after being traded to the Orlando Magic. It took some time for him to fully recover from a few nagging injuries, but as soon as he stepped onto the court for the first time as a Magic Man, the world was reminded why he was the number one draft pick a few years ago. Markelle Fultz was brilliant. His stats dramatically improved across the board, he became one of the NBA’s most lethal finishers, he played incredible defense, he did everything that fans thought he could do and then some. He earned that starting point guard spot in no time, He needed that change of scenery to finally be free to be himself. No longer was he the “next Anthony Bennett” or the injured kid with the funny free-throw form. He was a tremendous basketball player and a key piece of an NBA team. Fultz was like Icarus, in a way. The troubled guard knew he could soar to incredible heights if only he was freed from the immense pressure he felt to succeed as a 76er. And once he did, he flew. He took advantage of every opportunity given to him in Orlando and embraced the fresh, open air he never breathed in Philadelphia. He was happy, he was excited, he was loved, and he was flying higher than he ever had before. But just like Icarus, Markelle Fultz flew too close to the sun.
On January 6, 2021, the Magic faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway. It was a regular season game, no different from any other, and the Magic would once again rely on their budding star, Fultz, to lead them to victory. That victory would be hard to reach, though, as the Magic found themselves with only three points to Cleveland’s eleven midway through the first quarter. But things would be okay as long as Fultz had the ball. At that particular moment, he did. And what’s more, he saw a fairly open lane to the basket, an easy opportunity for him to drive to the rim and cut Cleveland’s lead. And off he went, expecting an easy two points. But as soon as he was gathering to attempt an euro-step layup, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. A faint scream could be heard from on the court, one that came from Fultz’s mouth. The cameras quickly panned to Orlando’s prized point guard, who was now rolling on the floor, writhing in pain. He was taken off he court for an examination, only to receive the most devastating news a player could receive: he tore his ACL.
It was the worst injury he had ever received as a pro, a high bar to set for a player whose young career was defined by injuries. And the basketball community agreed. The same fans who had mocked Fultz for his shoulder injury expressed their deepest sorrows for him. Because this was not a joke. It was a tragedy, because this injury was more than just basketball. It was about man who was finally on the right track, re-discovering his purpose in life and regaining his passion for the game he loved, only to be hit with the worst roadblock he had faced so far. But sympathies from the community did not change his terrible circumstances. Fultz was sidelined for the remainder of that season, marking the beginning of the end for the Orlando Magic. Without him, they would not stand a chance in the playoffs, and Fultz’s injury became the impetus for the team to start over from scratch and rebuild their entire roster. But no matter how many injuries he may face, he will always be Markelle Fultz. He is a man who has gone through so much tumult at such an early stage in his career, but has persevered and worked hard to overcome it. He’ll unquestionably be back, and likely better than ever.
In all likelihood, Markelle Fultz will earn a starting spot for this season. The question is not if he earns a starting spot, but when. It’s not yet clear as to when Fultz will be cleared to play again, but many within the Orlando Magic organization estimate that it will be sooner rather than later. But how soon? Will he be ready for opening night? When he does return, will he be able to play as well as he did before his injury? Fultz’s future role with the team is unclear, but it’s almost certain that he returns as the Magic top guard. We will not give up on Fultz, just like he never gave up in his basketball journey, when most people in his broken shoes would have done. Fultz is a warrior. And if history is any indication, this injury will only make him stronger and better.
R.J. HAMPTON
Saying goodbye to an old friend is hard, especially if you’ve known them for quite a while. Magic fans learned this the hard way during last year’s trade deadline, when the team finally parted ways with Aaron Gordon. Gordon and his incredibly leaping ability became the most recognizable face on the team and gave basketball fans a reason to pay attention to the team. He was so fun to watch, but after a while, he just could not fit with the team any longer. And Gordon felt the same way. The (should-be) two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion requested a trade a few months ago, and the Magic granted it by sending him to Denver. The trade was initially tough for the fans, as Gordon gave seven years of fun basketball to us. But despite how influential Gordon was to the team, fans got over the trade pretty quickly. Because in losing Aaron Gordon, we gained R.J. Hampton in return.
Like Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton is a second-year player who was also highly-regarded coming out of high school. He chose not to go to college, instead opting to play one year for the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. His first home in the NBA was in Denver, where he got little playing time backing up Jamal Murray and Monte Morris. But that did not mean Hampton was not good enough to play big minutes in the NBA. He just never had an opportunity to showcase his talent. And talent he had. He was very, very fast, and equally as athletic. That combination of skills made him a deadly finisher at the rim, and sometimes a one-man fast break. But none of that was made clear in Denver, where he averaged less than ten minutes a game. He would have to wait for his chance, and he finally got it in Orlando. His minutes per game nearly tripled as he turned heads with his electrifying speed and his dunking skill, both of which were reminiscent of the man he was traded for. But he is not just a younger or less famous Aaron Gordon, not at all. He’s R.J. Hampton, a man who, like Markelle Fultz before him, took advantage of an opportunity given to him. And in doing so, he could become the starting point guard for the Orlando Magic.
But that very well may not be the case. Of the four names listed in this article, R.J. Hampton is the least likely to earn a starting guard spot. The way this guard-heavy team is constructed simply does not have much room for Hampton to start at guard. However, it might grant him a starting small forwardspot. The Orlando Magic listed him as 6’6” on their Summer League roster, making him able to play the shooting guard or small forward. And on a team that lacks forward depth, Hampton would likely fit best at that position. His skillset fits the position; he is fast and athletic enough to defend and score over opposing forwards. He would likely have to compete against Chuma Okeke and Gary Harris (if he’s still with the team on opening night) for that starting small forward spot, but he can possibly earn it, just as much as he can earn a starting guard spot. It’s amazing how a player as versatile as Hampton barely saw playing time as a Nugget. But do not blame Denver for underusing him. Thank them instead for giving us one of the NBA’s most promising Swiss army knives. The Nuggets believed in him; they would not have drafted him otherwise. But the Magic, and soon the rest of the league, believe in him just a little more.
JALEN SUGGS
There are some people out there who are unhappy over how the 2021 NBA Draft went for Orlando. Arguments are still being made that the Magic were wrong for taking yet another point guard with their fifth overall pick. In most cases, those arguments hold validity. Adding another point guard to a team with already too many point guards usually leads to disaster. But our selection was not some ordinary point guard. Our selection was Jalen Suggs.
I already wrote an article singing Suggs’s praises on this site, as have our other writers. How couldn’t we? Suggs could potentially the best guard we’ve had since Jameer Nelson. He’s a great defender. He’s a brilliant playmaker. He’s a talented scorer. He’s a dangerous finisher. He’s a leader, he’s a winner, and he’s a killer with the ball in his hands. He led his Gonzaga Bulldogs to an undefeated college season, capped off with an incredible Final Four run that saw him sink one of the coldest buzzer beaters in basketball history. That man is now on our team. Suggs is nearly everything you’d want a point guard to be, and he could be the man who finally leads our team to a championship.
That likely will not come early, however. Despite Suggs potentially being the future of the Orlando Magic, he will still have to earn a starting spot just like everyone else. If Markelle Fultz is back in time for opening night, Suggs will almost certainly not get his spot. He’s likely going to play on the bench behind him early in the season, if Markelle is healthy, but it would not be a surprise if he usurps either him or Anthony/Hampton early on. Suggs is just too good not to start at some point. It may not happen for a little bit, but it eventually will. Within due time, basketball fans across the world will be wearing Jalen Suggs jerseys to show their support for the Magic’s next big thing. But for now, he’s competing with three other players for one of two starting guard spots.
So who will win those two spots for our first game? It all depends on Markelle Fultz’s knee. If he’s cleared to play, it will likely be him and Cole Anthony. If not, it will be Anthony and Suggs. I suspect Coach Mosley will play Hampton predominantly as a forward next season, which would free up some valuable minutes for the other three guards. But nothing is set in stone. It’s likely that the starting lineup changes a lot throughout the season, and it is even possible that none of those players win the starting shooting guard spot. It could potentially go to Gary Harris or Terrence Ross, two veteran wings who’ve already proven their ability in the league, something that neither of these four players have done. But those four are, in my opinion, the most capable. One of them will definitely become the starting point guard, and another may start at shooting guard as well. But who will they be? Only time, circumstances, and a fierce competition between four extremely talented basketball players will tell.
It’s nice to have too many point guards, isn’t it?
by Luke Scotchie
