The Orlando Magic have long seemed like a perfect trade partner for the Suns due to their depth and size at the guard and center positions. Now it’s finally time to strike a deal, and a Jalen Suggs for Allen swap makes a ton of sense for both teams.
Suggs is a 6’5 combo guard who’s a tremendous point of attack defender. His playmaking has been subdued playing with all the other Magic guards, as he’s averaging just over 2 assists per game this year. Yet, as a rookie, he averaged over 4 in a less crowded backcourt, so it's clearly something he's capable of doing.
Suggs is also a greatly improved three-point shooter, clocking in at 38% on 5 attempts per game this season. That's still not nearly as prolific as Allen though, who would be a welcome addition to a Magic team that’s last in the league in threes made per game. Clearing their backcourt while getting a sniper makes this trade a worthwhile one.
Suggs is under contract for another year before becoming a restricted free agent. Having that certainty that comes with being able to match any offer and prevent a player from leaving would give the Suns a peace of mind that they don’t have with Allen.