Magic must prioritize adding another guard in the offseason

Since hiring Jamahl Mosley as head coach in 2021, the Orlando Magic have slowly but surely begun to build an exciting young roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are the undoubted stars of the team. However, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black and Cole Anthony have all proven to be integral members of the young rotation.

Yet, despite all the excitement surrounding Orlando's youth movement, there's a very real gap in the Magic's roster — the lack of a point guard. Suggs is the closest thing Mosley has to a lead ball-handler. Yet, he's better suited to an off-ball role, with a core focus on locking down the perimeter on defense.

Orlando needs a true lead guard. Someone who can set the table for others, create for themselves and be the metronome of the offense. 

According to NBA insider Matt Moore, the Magic are expected to aggressively pursue roster upgrades this summer.

“Orlando is indeed shifting its approach, as it sounded like in [its] postseason pressers, towards making major upgrades,” Moore reported in his Hardwood Paroxysm newsletter. “Sources believe [it is] looking to package around $25M in salary for various players to give the offense the jump it needs. That sounds right because with Franz and Paolo, any addition making above that likely will demand the ball too much.”

Jeff Weltman would be best served targeting a high-level point guard. Orlando has the pieces to plug gaps elsewhere on the roster. It would be foolish to penny-pinch when adding to the one true area of need within the rotation. 

So, rather than chase a veteran forward or big man, Weltman should be exploring his guard options. A phone call to the Boston Celtics over Jrue Holiday would be a good place to start. And, perhaps a glance toward Terry Rozier from the Miami Heat. Both guards are expected to be available at the right price this summer.

Weltman and the Magic front office have rarely put a foot wrong throughout the rebuilding process. Acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be the first genuine mistake they've made, and in truth, the jury is still out on that. 

Nevertheless, if Orlando fails to add a reliable and high-level guard to the rotation this summer, it will likely lose an important year of development. As such, whatever trade packages the team has earmarked for the coming months must go to a team that is willing to part with a lead ball-handler. It's a no-brainer.