Since the days of Dwight Howard’s departure from the Magic, Orlando has been on the prowl for a star. The team has been in dire need for a player who can consistently play the role of the number one scoring option and it has become clear after nearly a decade that acquiring or developing a current player into a scorer need to be a priority for this team. It was clear during the 2018-2019 season that Nikola Vucevic had emerged as our All-Star talent. Sadly, after two years of playoff experience and a flurry of heartbreaking injuries, Orlando decided to move on from Vucevic and reconstruct from the bottom up. This may have been a difficult parting for some Magic fans, but there’s plenty to be on the lookout for. Let’s take a look at some of the young and enticing scoring options that Coach Mosley has for the upcoming season.
MARKELLE FULTZ:
This one goes without saying: Markelle. Gets. Buckets.
I would certainly be all for it if Coach gives Markelle the green light to be our “ISO!” guy when the team needs points on the board. Magic fans are familiar with his flashes of greatness shown in the 2019-2020 season and his excellent first few games of the 2020-2021 season. Myself along with many other avid basketball fans should know the former number one overall pick’s potential is still through the roof and when fully healthy, he can live up to the hype he had coming out of Washington.
A pressuring environment in Philly along with an injury-filled first couple of seasons led to his quick departure from the 76ers. Orlando now has the opportunity to rejuvenate Markelle and allow him to blossom into the leader and scorer he was presumed to be. Of course, this is all under the assumption he returns healthy and back to his normal self at the beginning of the season, which is highly unlikely considering the state of his injury. Should everything go according to plan, Fultz should see a full return playing heavy minutes sometime around the All-Star break, so if he really were to be considered as the prime scoring option he would likely have to rush his rehab. Certainly not an option for Orlando. The jury is still out on Fultz’ future with us, but one thing we can all agree on is the man has potential written all over him. The peak of his abilities has yet to come, Magic fans.
JALEN SUGGS
Magic fans are still experiencing bliss with a dash of shock due to the fact that Jalen Suggs was available for the Magic to draft with the 5th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Jalen is easily the most intriguing draft prospect Orlando has landed since the Dwight days, and his ability to score the basket is certainly up there as one of the best in his class. While not being as flashy as some other well-known scorers, Suggs certainly has the complete package when it comes to offensive ability. He has a knack for finishing through contact, is a top tier pick and roll maestro, boasts a strong mid range game, and has developed a consistent three point shot as seen in his few Summer League games. In Vegas, Suggs had an impressive 24 point debut, while shooting above 40% from the field.
He has all the right tools along with intangibles to develop into a MVP-caliber superstar and with Markelle Fultz likely being sidelined for the start of the season, Suggs will likely be put in position to start for our team right out of the gate. Orlando is the absolute perfect fit for him in terms of becoming the best possible scorer he can be. He does not really have any ball-dominant teammates, is a natural leader with many teammates near his age, and has room for error since Orlando is not looking to win now. I believe at the end of the season he will likely lead our team in PPG, since he simply has so much opportunity to thrive quickly in Orlando’s environment. The path is set for Jalen, now it’s up to him to prove us right and dominate the league from the jump.
JONATHAN ISAAC
As many Magic fans are aware, Isaac’s game is extremely defensive focused. However, his offensive game is often forgotten, and throughout his rehab, he has been working overtime to increase his offensive strengths and become a profound two-way player. One aspect of Isaac’s offensive game that flies under the radar often is his rebounding and finishing ability. Isaac averaged 6.8 rebounds and 12 points per game on 47% shooting in the 34 games he played during the 19-20 season.
Although listed as a forward, Isaac’s capabilities in the paint transcend that of many NBA centers. He also is a semi-consistent 3 point shooter, shooting a 34% clip from behind the arc last year. The possibility of J.I. bringing his offense to that high of a level that he’ll lead us in scoring is more of a “what if” instead of a “probably”, seeing as there are more polished scorers on our team and Isaac is still returning from a tough injury. Should Isaac continue to improve his offense at the same pace as he has, he would be near the 20 points per game category at the end of this coming season. It’s not very likely he’ll come out the gate with too much firepower on the scoring side, but he is at a stage in his career where stepping it up offensively is crucial. I can definitely see J.I. taking complete advantage of the team being in rebuild mode and making huge strides in his offensive confidence.
SLEEPER CANDIDATES – WENDELL CARTER JR./TERRENCE ROSS/CHUMA OKEKE/COLE ANTHONY
Orlando has multiple young guys looking to prove something — maybe even too many. After being snubbed from the All-Rookie teams, Cole Anthony has a chip on his shoulder. We have already seen some impressive showings out of Cole, such as his two mind blowing game winners or when he scored 37 points in the final game of the season. As an iso-heavy combo guard, today’s game is catered to the style of play Anthony brings to the table.
Wendell Carter Jr. landed in Orlando with a blank slate after an underwhelming first two seasons with the Chicago Bulls due to the Vucevic trade. He saw an increase in minutes under Clifford and showed great potential as an impactful center, posting multiple 20 and 10 games (including a 19 and 12 revenge game against Chicago).
When you hear the words “scoring” and “Orlando Magic” in the same sentence, the Human Torch has to come to mind. Terrence Ross has proven time and time again as a scoring machine off the bench for Orlando. With some starting spots up for grabs, Ross could see a jump in production, although I do think Ross’ value is at its best when he’s feasting on the second unit. While Ross may not be a star, his volume scoring provides incredible value for late game runs when Orlando is looking for a comeback win.
Finally, Chuma Okeke could put his name in the running for top scorer. One of my favorite Magic games to watch recently was Chuma’s 18 point outing on a ridiculous 100% shooting. Okeke possesses the most versatile offensive skills on the team in my opinion, as he is a long forward who can run the pick and roll on both ends, handle the ball, and work in the post. When given an opportunity, don’t be surprised if Chuma climbs his way up the scoring ladder.
This list is in no way counting out other Magic players such as RJ Hampton, Mo Bamba, and Gary Harris. These are simply the names I feel are most likely to have a strong case as Orlando’s best scorer. If I had to make my final bet on who’s securing that title, it would have to be Jalen Suggs. It just feels as if the floor is wide open for Suggs to dominate and a player with his leadership and all around offensive skill set is most definitely prepared to take full advantage of these opportunities.
The fact that we even have to ask a question this simple should be very exciting for fans. With so many possible stars in the making, we have nothing else to do but sit back and watch the “Magic” unfold!
by Kieran Patel
