The Phoenix Suns should inquire about Orlando Magic’s Point-Guard Depth

The Phoenix Suns have, in contrast to others, a stable roster with no major weaknesses. Yet, in the wake of a disappointing playoff exit, one key question continues to arise.

What level of concern should be placed on the deteriorating performance of an ageing Chris Paul, and what trust should be placed in his backup, Cameron Payne?

Paul’s consistent regular season, where he led the league in assists, combined with his stature as a 12-time All-Star, means a drastic change would be hasty. However, it’s well identified that a suitable backup needs to be addressed, whether it’s replacing or in addition to Payne.

Rather than focusing on experienced options to address their point-guard depth, could the Phoenix Suns pivot towards younger, longer-term possibilities?

Given the Suns position as a genuine championship contender, most trade possibilities usually center around experienced players in an effort to ‘win now’. But in relation to their point-guard situation, a younger option may not only address the issue of depth, but perhaps also the matter of a Paul replacement in coming seasons.

When scouring the league, one team stands out as having a gluttony of young guard talent; the Orlando Magic. That’s not to say that any of them project to be All-Stars, or even starting calibre players for that matter. But maybe that’s the exact reason as to why they could become available for the right price.

Let’s identify three players – Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton. Firstly, Fultz is the most expensive from a salary standpoint, making $16.5 million next season. He’s also coming off a serious injury, having only just returned for 18 games to conclude the regular season.

Sure, Fultz is unlikely to ever live upto the hype of a number one overall draft pick. Yet, when fully healthy, he’s shown signs in Orlando of being a productive, helpful rotation player. The 24-year-old averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists in his last full season (2019-20).

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Anthony has now completed two seasons at NBA level, having been taken with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. While there are question marks on his offensive efficiency and defensive capacity, the 22-year-old did average 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists last season.

Having shown the least at NBA level, Hampton would be a clear third choice should the Suns inquire about their possible availability. Also coming into his third season, he averaged 7.6 points on just 38.3% from the floor in nearly 22 minutes per game last season.

Still, at just 21 years of age and at 6’6″, Hampton does present upside. It’s just that, given their aspirations to win a championship, Phoenix are looking for playoff contributors over long-term, development prospects.

How Orlando value these three is a different story. They’d rightfully still be high on the talent they possess, making a potential deal unlikely. Still, that doesn’t mean the Suns shouldn’t inquire on what it would take to pry them out of the rebuilding franchise.