The Magic have made their intentions clear — they believe Jalen Suggs is part of their future. Per NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Magic and Suggs have agreed on a five-year, $150.5 million rookie extension, putting the former fifth overall pick in the driver’s seat as one of the team’s cornerstone pieces.
Now, if you’ve been following Suggs’ journey, you know it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Early injuries and shooting struggles had some questioning if he’d live up to his draft billing.
But last season, Suggs put a lot of those doubts to rest. He averaged a career-best 12.6 points per game, but more importantly, shot the ball with confidence — 47% from the field, 39.7% from deep, and added some muscle on the defensive end with an All-Defensive Second Team nod.
Suggs isn’t just earning a payday, he’s earning the right to take over as a leader for this young Magic squad. With Markelle Fultz now out of the picture, Suggs will step into a larger role offensively, and the Magic will be counting on him to continue his upward trajectory.
For Suggs, this extension comes after seeing his peers cash in. Last year, Jaden McDaniels got his five-year, $131 million extension, and it looks like Suggs took notice. Like McDaniels, Suggs is a versatile defender, but where he stands out is his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball, and that’s reflected in the bigger number on his contract.
Suggs’ deal is just the latest in what’s becoming a busy offseason for the Magic. Franz Wagner also secured his own five-year max deal, and Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr. are locked in long-term. Add in Paolo Banchero, who’s next in line for an extension in 2025, and Orlando is clearly building a core designed to grow together for years to come.
The message is simple: the Magic believe in their young talent, and Suggs is among those at the heart of that belief.
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