How’d We Get Here?

The Magic bit the bullet last year, accepting that they were just going to be first-round fodder for years to come given their roster construction. Even though questions remained about the team’s ceiling as Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz dealt with major injuries, the Magic decided to just get it over with and kick off a rebuild at the deadline. Aaron Gordon was gone, with RJ Hampton the best asset in the return. Evan Fournier was gone for two second-round picks. All-Star Nikola Vucevic was sent to the Bulls so Orlando could add Wendell Carter Jr. and open up more time for Mo Bamba. Cole Anthony was playing well before his own serious injury. The Magic have a pick-and-mix of up-and-coming players, throwing together a nice group of youngsters with just a half-season of asset collection.

The offseason didn’t see much change besides Steve Clifford leaving, as the Magic were happy to take their two top-10 draft picks and let some older guys from the bottom of the roster head out in free agency. It’s going to be a young team but the Magic are trying to build something greater than what they got from the last era.

Offseason Moves

Arrivals: Robin Lopez, E’Twaun Moore
Rookie Arrivals: No. 5 Jalen Suggs, No. 8 Franz Wagner
Departures: James Ennis, Dwayne Bacon, Otto Porter, Chasson Randle, Donta Hall, Sindarius Thornwell
Retained: Moritz Wagner, Ignas Brazdeikis (2W)

Depth Chart and Minutes Per Game

PG: Markelle Fultz (MG: 20-30, 25-28) / Cole Anthony (24-29) / E’Twaun Moore (0, 13-18) / Michael Carter-Williams (GM: 25-50%)
SG: Jalen Suggs (32-35) / RJ Hampton (21-25)
SF: Gary Harris (25-28) / Terrence Ross (27-29)
PF: Jonathan Isaac (INJ, MG: 5-10?, 28-31) / Chuma Okeke (23-27) / Franz Wagner (24-30)
C: Wendell Carter Jr. (26-29) / Robin Lopez (0, 15-18) / Mo Bamba (0, 14-20)

Position Battles

Point Guard: Markelle Fultz’s injury recovery might make this easier than it would’ve been otherwise, because when the Magic are healthy they’ve got three young lottery point guards. The problem is that none of the three are what you would call plus shooters at this point in their careers. Jalen Suggs is the best of the bunch and should be considered the favorite to start, though Fultz (when healthy) pretty much has to play here given his lack of jumper. He’ll have a hard time making it work as an off-ball player. Cole Anthony did well in his extended audition last year and might have the easiest time of the three moving over to SG. In the end, we’ll bank on Suggs getting most of the work, with a healthy Fultz and Anthony splitting whatever he doesn’t get. Michael Carter-Williams will be emergency depth. This is very much a good problem to have for the Magic.

Shooting Guard: At full strength we imagine that Orlando tries to rock with two of those PGs in the starting five, though with Fultz sidelined it may be tenable to have Anthony come in off the bench. If the Magic opt for a more traditional look then Gary Harris is the favorite to start as a low-usage guy who can help out on defense. Terrence Ross will keep the same sixth man role until he’s traded (presumably), and RJ Hampton will also get some run. E’Twaun Moore can hit some triples in a pinch, too.

Small Forward: Chuma Okeke impressed down the stretch last season and should be considered part of the core going forward, so giving him a starting spot makes a lot of sense. Of course, lottery pick Franz Wagner might have something to say about that, with a heady, high-IQ game that will help him complement a variety of different players. Harris might be in the running too if Orlando wants to open with a Suggs-Anthony backcourt. And all of that assumes that the Magic have Jonathan Isaac start at power forward.

Power Forward: Getting Isaac back is going to be a big lift for the Magic and he can start at either forward spot. He’s so versatile that his nominal position won’t really matter as he switches all over the court. Okeke and Wagner should be able to handle themselves here in small-ball groups and the older Wagner, Moe, is going to be involved off the bench as well. The Magic have enough center depth that we’d expect most of his minutes to come at the four.

Center: Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba both had some solid outings down the stretch last year, and the two are destined for a timeshare situation with an ongoing back-and-forth to see who plays more every night. Veteran Robin Lopez was added for some of the burlier matchups but shouldn’t play every night, while Moe Wagner can slot in at the five in smaller groups.

Outlook

Cole Anthony, PG

Per-Game Value: 177 / 242 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 206 / 250 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 46

2020-21 Review: Anthony was given a decent load of responsibility early on in the year as Markelle Fultz's ACL tear thrust the rookie into a lead ball-handling role. While the Magic didn't win much, the experience should be invaluable for Anthony and he was quickly able to showcase some starting-caliber abilities. The big bump in the road was a rib fracture that was initially diagnosed as a shoulder strain, though the rookie was able to get back into rhythm and post top-130 numbers down the home stretch.

This Year: Anthony has a little more competition this season as Jalen Suggs fell to the Magic at No. 5 in the draft. He figures to be locked in as a starter and will likely play next to Markelle Fultz whenever both are healthy. Depending on Fultz's recovery timeline, Anthony may have a month or more to prove that he should start in the backcourt, but there should be enough room for all three youngsters to get close to 28 mpg and beyond given Orlando's rebuild. It's also possible that Anthony starts to increase the team's spacing as he's a better shooter than Fultz. Seeing how the pieces fit together should be a priority, even if there will be some adjustments as the young ball-handlers figure out how to play off one another.

Injury History: Anthony missed 25 games after suffering a non-displaced rib fracture. In college he missed about two months after undergoing surgery for a partial tear of his right meniscus.

Outlook: Anthony's inefficiency and lack of defensive stats were the big stumbling blocks for his fantasy appeal last year, and that doesn't figure to change. With Suggs' pedigree lining him up to start and Fultz being a non-shooter, Anthony is going to have to improve as a 3-point threat if this is going to work long-term. That he was only a late-round option last year despite starting 33 of his 46 appearances is a bit of a concern and if Fultz is ready for opening night you can probably ignore Anthony until the 16-team range. If Fultz needs more time to get cleared, Anthony is a reasonable flier at the end of 12-team drafts.

Mo Bamba, C,

Per-Game Value: 222 / 199 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 240 / 230 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 45

2020-21 Review: Bamba started off slowly as he struggled to regain his conditioning after dealing with COVID-19 but ended the season with a bang. The Magic cleared the runway for him after the trade deadline and Bamba responded in a big way, producing top-60/80 (8/9-cat) value with per-game averages that included 11.0 points, 0.9 threes, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while playing a career-high 23.6 minutes a night over the last month of the season. There were still on-court deficiencies but Bamba was finally given the opportunity to play through them. After two quiet seasons, it was time for Orlando to take a close look at what the big man actually had to offer over an extended period.

This Year: Bamba will be competing for center minutes with Wendell Carter Jr. and Robin Lopez, though he figures to be the backup at worst with a likely timeshare coming between Bamba and WCJ. The per-minute numbers remain intriguing but it doesn't look like Bamba will be fully unleashed next year. The Magic are rebuilding and should give their young guys lots of leeway but it is mildly concerning that the Magic have two alternatives should Bamba falter in any way.

Injury History: Last year was fairly promising for Bamba once he got over those COVID-related issues at the start. He missed a handful of games in the health and safety protocols (contact tracing), one with a left hamstring strain, one with a right toe sprain, two with a left hip contusion and two games with an illness. Bamba missed two games with a right ankle sprain during the regular season during the 2019-20 season, keeping healthy after he was felled by left foot soreness and a stress reaction in his left tibia in his first campaign. He dealt with the aftereffects of COVID-19 and could never get into shape inside the bubble, though doctors have cleared him of any long-term complications.

Outlook: Bamba won't get full starter's minutes next season but is back on the right track after a rough first two years in the league, and it's extremely promising that he was able to post middle-round numbers while sharing time with Carter last year. Look for Bamba in the final few rounds of standard-league drafts, but beware that his floor lies somewhere beyond the top-150.

Per-Game Value: 365 / 382 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 439 / 441 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 12

2020-21 Review: Brazdeikis was traded from the Knicks to the Sixers and quickly waived, latching on with Orlando for a stretch run where the Magic simply needed active players to take the court. There's a large asterisk considering the state of the roster but Brazdeikis averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 threes in 29.3 mpg with the Magic.

This Year: Brazdeikis will return to the Magic on a two-way deal. It doesn't guarantee him a rotation spot but it does keep his NBA career alive.

Injury History: Nada.

Outlook: Brazdeikis is a 30-team flier.

Wendell Carter Jr., C

Per-Game Value: 144 / 146 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 156 / 159 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 54

2020-21 Review: Carter continued his usual stop-and-go fantasy value in Chicago but was traded to the rebuilding Magic at the deadline. He wasn't able to gain a ton of extra value in Orlando as the team basically put him into a timeshare with Mo Bamba, but he was able to post top-135 numbers after the deal. It was a letdown for sure but it was nice to see WCJ get some minutes for a team that seemed willing to let him play rather than constantly seek out alternatives. His per-minute numbers were fine last year but Carter saw his playing time cut by about four minutes a night.

This Year: The Magic are in it for the long haul and Carter and Mo Bamba will be splitting up the center minutes. If last season is any indication we might be headed for a timeshare, but Carter's got a steadier game and should be able to grab the lion's share of playing time even if it's not a large margin. If nothing else, Carter won't be yanked around given the state of the Orlando roster.

Injury History: Carter kept up the tradition of suffering one significant injury, missing 16 games with a right quad contusion. Beyond that he missed one game with a sore right ankle and four with an eye abrasion. Before the 2019-20 season, Carter underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury, though that didn’t affect his availability for games in any way. Later on he suffered a left thumb sprain, a left ankle sprain and a tailbone contusion in the preseason, though those also didn’t affect his regular season. He was good once the games got rolling, only dealing with one injury of note. Unfortunately, that was a right ankle sprain that cost him 22 games. In year one, Carter had season-ending surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb in January. The ankles are the biggest concern moving forward.

Outlook: It's pretty much now or never for Carter, who is locked into a starting role on a team that's clearly embarking on a long-term rebuild. He'll need to hold off a flawed player in Bamba and has frittered away similar chances in the past, but the setup and stat set should enable WCJ to post a top-100 season. Hopefully he finally comes through.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG

Per-Game Value: 279 / 356 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 337 / 365 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 31

2020-21 Review: Carter-Williams capitalized on injuries and a mid-year gutting of the Orlando roster to post 25.8 mpg, with some worthwhile counting stats in the process. Unfortunately that also came on horrid percentages and MCW's greatest utility was as a long guard who could defend a couple different positions if needed. That helped the Magic way more than fantasy players. Of course, Carter-Williams missing over 35 games due to injuries didn't help.

This Year: Carter-Williams slides down the depth chart with Jalen Suggs in town and Markelle Fultz returning at some point. His defensive versatility may keep him in the rotation but it's going to be an uphill battle to get serious playing time. He underwent surgery to remove a bone fragment and repair a ligament in his left ankle in late August. He's out indefinitely.

Injury History: Carter-Williams missed five games due to illnesses, 19 games with a left foot bone bruise and ligament sprain and the final 13 games of the year with a left ankle sprain, leading into surgery to remove a bone fragment and repair a ligament. Absences are nothing new for the former ROY. In 2019-20 MCW missed three games with a left hip contusion, six with a left hip strain, one with a nasal contusion, 13 with a left AC joint sprain and 10 to close the year with a left foot tendon strain. In 2018-19 he battled left knee soreness in the preseason but was mostly healthy thereafter despite needing to play catch-up. In 2017-18 Carter-Williams missed the first nine games due to offseason surgery on both knees and had his season ended in March after undergoing surgery to repair a posterior labral tear. The year prior he missed 28 games with a knee injury and another four with patellar tendinitis.

Outlook: Carter-Williams looks like a third-string PG at best, and that's being generous enough to put either Jalen Suggs or Cole Anthony at SG whenever Markelle Fultz returns. Injuries or trades could put MCW on the map for a slow trickle of rebounds, assists and steals, but even that will only impact deeper formats, and he'll need to get healthy first.

Markelle Fultz, PG

Per-Game Value: 185 / 255 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 432 / 439 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 8

2020-21 Review: Fultz looked comfortable for the first time in his NBA career, with room to breathe and play through mistakes as a starter on a team that was invested in the long-term future. Unfortunately he tore his ACL in the eighth game of the season which prevented fantasy managers from getting a good idea of what Fultz is truly capable of.

This Year: Fultz may miss a month or two of the season as he recovers from his knee surgery, but could be ready for opening night if his rehab process is quick. The Magic haven't said much about his timeline yet and that's going to make for some complicated planning in fantasy. If Fultz isn't ready he'll require a longer ramp-up period, but if he is good to go by October there's a chance that he can get through some minutes restrictions relatively quickly. Once he's at full strength, Fultz is likely to return to a starting spot alongside newcomer Jalen Suggs, though the presence of Cole Anthony will allow Orlando to take things as slow as necessary -- and Anthony's shooting may be a better fit alongside Suggs, too. There's lots to shake out.

Injury History: As mentioned, Fultz tore his left ACL in January 2021. He didn’t deal with any significant injuries in the 2019-20 season, missing just one game due to illness. That was a big step forward for him after shoulder problems loomed over everything he did (or didn’t) do in his first two years. In 2018-19 Fultz was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome after an initial diagnosis of ‘shoulder soreness’ led to big disagreements between his camp and the Sixers. He suffered a muscular imbalance in his shoulder in year one, but mercifully it looks like he got back to full health.

Outlook: If Fultz is ready by the start of the season he's a fine late-round option, but if he's not then he's tough to recommend as a stash in standard leagues unless you have multiple IR spots. When healthy, Fultz should get solid minutes and usage, but efficiency concerns mean that his fantasy value and playing time aren't directly correlated. If he needs a while to even get starter-level minutes, there are strong odds that a half-speed Fultz tops out as a late-round guy, which may not be worth the wait.

R.J. Hampton, PG

Per-Game Value: 366 / 389 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 317 / 333 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 52

2020-21 Review: Hampton's rookie season was one of slow development until he was traded to Orlando, which led to a big spike in playing time (9.3 to 25.2 mpg). Poor efficiency and a limited stat set still prevented Hampton from generating much of value in his extended opportunity, but it was good experience for a raw prospect to get.

This Year: Hampton's age should put him towards the front of the line for playing time on the rebuilding Magic, though he will need to contend with a deep backcourt that includes Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz (when healthy), Terrence Ross, Gary Harris and Michael Carter-Williams. We'd expect the Magic to play him over at least one of those guys but you never know. Either way, it won't be a lot of minutes when everyone's active.

Injury History: Hampton sat out the final game of the year with a right ankle sprain but his big absence was seven games in the health and safety protocols.

Outlook: Hampton's got a reasonable setup as a young, talented player on a rebuilding roster, but he happens to be at a position of relative depth. That should get thinned out over the course of the season but Hampton's only a deep-league flier unless some transactions happen before opening night.

Gary Harris, SG

Per-Game Value: 289 / 290 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 306 / 308 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 38

2020-21 Review: It wasn't quite rock bottom but it was as close as the 26-year-old Harris had ever come before. His .397 mark from the field was the worst since his rookie season, while his 0.7 steals per game tied that rookie campaign for a career-low. A former two-way contributor in the making, injuries have really altered Harris' trajectory. He was traded to the Magic at the deadline and did have some low, low-end streaming appeal when the Magic were missing all of their usual players, but that's not exactly a feat worth trumpeting.

This Year: Harris is in the final year of his four-year, $84 million contract, which makes him prime trade bait on a rebuilding roster. He held onto the starting SG spot down the stretch last year but might not do so this year with the Magic adding Jalen Suggs to a backcourt core that already had Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz. It would be absolutely gutting to fantasy managers if Harris started over those higher-upside options, which increases the likelihood of it happening by a good chunk. Those are the rules, sorry.

Injury History: Harris' groin gave him serious trouble all year, as he sat out seven games with a left adductor strain, returned for one, and then hit the shelf for the next 24 contests. He also missed a game for load management and two for personal reasons. In 2019-20, Harris missed five games with a right adductor strain and one with a shin contusion, though he was also held out of Denver’s seeding games and first five playoff games due to a right hip strain. In 2018-19 he missed seven games due to a right adductor strain and might’ve been saved from more absences by the fact that it led right into the All-Star break and a week off. Harris also missed five games with a left hamstring strain, 11 games with a right hip injury and two games with left ankle soreness. In 2017-18 he sat out 11 games down the stretch with a knee injury, and the season prior he missed the beginning of the year with a groin injury and then four weeks because of a right foot problem. Harris hasn’t exceeded 67 games in a season since 2015-16, and has exceeded 57 games just twice in his six-year career (though he probably would’ve met that low benchmark if not for the pandemic). He's pretty high risk.

Outlook: Maybe Harris gets back to his old self in a low-pressure environment in a contract year. You don't need to spend a draft pick to find out unless you're in a 20-team league.

Jonathan Isaac, PF

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Isaac missed the entire campaign while rehabbing from his latest major injury, a torn ACL suffered in the bubble at the close of the 2019-2 0 season.

This Year: Isaac returns to a Magic team that's worlds apart from where it was when he tore that ACL. The rest of his old starting lineup buddies are gone, with Orlando now leaning on a young backcourt, two young centers and various dart throws and reclamation projects. Isaac is going to play a massive role for the Magic and should have as much usage as he's ever going to get. Hopefully his body cooperates.

Injury History: Before tearing his ACL in August of 2020, Isaac's 2019-20 campaign was ended by a left knee sprain and bone bruise. The pandemic hiatus allowed him to return after missing 31 games, though in a cruel twist of fate that quick return led to a much more serious injury. In 2018-19 Isaac missed seven games in November with a right ankle sprain, following up a rookie campaign where the ankle gave him serious trouble. In 2017-18 he was limited to just 27 games, sitting out for stints of 17, two and 26 games with right ankle problems while also missing three because of a strained left foot. The risk is significant, with red flags all over his lower extremities.

Outlook: Isaac has had an extremely long layoff and is now cemented as one of Orlando's core players as they enter a new era. A gifted defensive wing, Isaac was a second-round value in 2019-20 before his knee problems despite scoring just 12.0 points per contest. He won't hit those heights and may struggle to adjust to being a primary scorer, but Isaac is in shape for a big campaign. We wouldn't hesitate to get a round ahead of his ADP to secure his services because the upside is immense if he can stay healthy.

Per-Game Value: 286 / 294 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 183 / 188 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 71

2020-21 Review: Lopez began the year as Thomas Bryant's backup but that quickly became an ugly, value-killing timeshare and stayed that way after Bryant tore his ACL. Lopez was displaced in the starting lineup by midseason signee Alex Len and then had to split time with Len and trade acquisition Daniel Gafford. The veteran was a good mentor for Washington's young bucks and was still the team's best option for certain matchups, though he never got to play enough to really matter in fantasy. A career-high .634 from the field was wiped away by a career-low 0.6 blocks per contest.

This Year: Lopez signed a one-year deal with the Magic, where he'll serve as a mentor and occasional backup to Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Bamba and Moe Wagner. If he ends up playing something close to 20 minutes a night it'll mean that someone is either hurt or playing very, very poorly.

Injury History: Lopez missed a pair of games with a left ankle issue, marking his first injury-related absences in the last six seasons. We're not counting illneses.

Outlook: Somehow Lopez found an uglier timeshare situation to be a part of after the Washington saga. He's a top-300 option who can be kept on file as a handcuff if Orlando's younger guys get hurt or stink their way out of the rotation.

E'Twaun Moore, SG

Per-Game Value: 367 / 375 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 377 / 379 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 27

2020-21 Review: Moore was a luxury depth player on a deep Suns roster, resulting in just 14.4 mpg while making a career-low 27 appearances. It didn't help that the former sharpshooter went .314 from distance, his first ever season below .340 and his first in the last six under .370.

This Year: Moore signed on with Orlando, marking his second tour of duty with the Magic. He'll be looking to bounce back from last season though it's safe to say that Moore is firmly in the "veteran presence" portion of his career. He'll be used as a floor spacer in the second unit and will act as insurance behind Gary Harris and Terrence Ross.

Injury History: There were nothing but DNP-CDs last year. In 2019-20 Moore missed a single game with neck spasms but the rest of his absences came as DNP-CDs. In 2018-19, he sat out one game with a left tibial contusion, two with a lower left leg strain, two with a left quad contusion, three for rest, three with a bruised left quad, two more for rest and then the final 15 with another left quad contusion. There are hamstring, back, heel, toe and ankle problems from multiple seasons ago in his history as well.

Outlook: Moore won't be worth your time in all but the deepest of leagues.

Chuma Okeke, PF, Orlando Magic

Per-Game Value: 186 / 169 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 229 / 211 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 45

2020-21 Review: Okeke made his NBA debut after sitting out his rookie year with an injury, and by the end of the campaign he looked like a solid two-way wing prospect with a bright future in the league. That didn't happen immediately as Okeke was playing limited minutes until the trade deadline, but after Orlando's blowup he moved into the starting five and got a great opportunity to develop. He made 17 of his 19 starts after the trade deadline and averaged 12.5 points (43.1 FG%, 83.3 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, 1.4 3-pointers and 1.2 turnovers in 30.9 mpg in those contests, posting top-90 value in the process. It was a major jump after he posted top-280 value in the "first half" of the season. His roll was stopped by a late-season ankle sprain but it was a successful year overall.

This Year: The Magic should have plenty of time for Okeke to keep developing, but he is going to have to contend with a returning Jon Isaac and newcomer Franz Wagner. It seems like a stretch for him to get 30.9 mpg again, and Okeke probably won't be given carte blanche to get shots up either, but he's a solid two-way player who can be a contributor as the Magic rebuild and transition into the next competitive window. He may not start but will have a strong hold on a rotation role.

Injury History: Okeke tore his left ACL in the 2019 NCAA tournament and missed his rookie year as a result. As a sophomore he missed 16 games following a left knee bone bruise and a left ankle sprain knocked him from the final 10 games of the campaign.

Outlook: While Okeke is destined for a step back from his silly season output, it's good to know that he has middle-round upside. There are question marks surrounding his main competition for minutes at forward so you could certainly do worse with a late-round flier in standard leagues.

Terrence Ross, SG

Per-Game Value: 120 / 131 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 174 / 170 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 46

2020-21 Review: Ross entered the year with a stable sixth man scoring role for a bubble playoff team, but things went off the rails despite a set of circumstances that looked great on paper. The Magic totally blew it up at the deadline, trading away enough players that Ross was the oldest guy left on the team. He was supposed to feast as the team's lead scoring option but instead sat for 18 of the final 28 games as youth took over. What's worse, Ross struggled mightily in his 10 games as The Guy, keeping him in late-round territory. Ross did set new career-highs in points, assists and minutes, but a dip in his 3-point numbers prevented those improvements from making a tangible impact on his fantasy finish.

This Year: Ross enters the season as Orlando's resident Old Guy once again, though he was floated as a trade target for playoff teams throughout the offseason. Until a trade happens, Ross is one of the leading candidates to be the Magic's top scorer and he'll have very few threats to his role and workload as a perimeter gunner.

Injury History: Ross suffered a left toe hairline fracture in the preseason but was ready for opening night. Once the campaign began he missed one game with right hamstring irritation, two with left knee soreness, seven for right knee soreness and 16 with a sore back, though those final two injuries came when the Magic were fully tanking. In 2019-20 Ross missed two games with a sore right knee and then a pair of seeding games after leaving the bubble to receive medical testing after experiencing a serious stomach problem. He’s been mostly healthy throughout his career, with the lone exception coming in the form of a sprained right MCL and non-displaced fracture in his right leg that limited him to 24 games in 2017-18.

Outlook: For as long as Ross is with the Magic, he's a safe bet for top-130 value with some top-100 upside. He's a solid role player and his game should travel if a trade comes to pass, and Ross will once again be a fine late-round target for points and triples.

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Suggs was regarded as one of the higher-floor prospects in the class, which is especially exciting since he also sports All-Star potential. He's got a steady, polished game but also mixes in elite athleticism and scores high in the intangibles. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game last year at Gonzaga. If there's one weak spot it's 3-point shooting, but even that wasn't unworkable.

This Year: The Magic sprinted to the podium to take Suggs at No. 5, and he immediately slots in as the team's point guard of the future. He's got a nice stat set and is lined up for huge minutes as a player who can handle himself on both ends of the floor, and elevate his teammates, too. The Magic have a bit of a logjam going when he, Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz are all healthy, but Suggs should take on the largest role of anyone in Orlando's backcourt.

Injury History: Suggs battled left ankle and right leg injuries in 2020 but they didn't stop him from dominating at Gonzaga.

Outlook: Suggs is going to be one of the highest-drafted rookies in all of fantasy this year, and with good reason. He'll have a huge workload and can deliver in multiple fantasy categories while playing well enough on the court to stay there. We're not totally sold on all that usage turning into a can't-miss player, especially for a shaky 3-point shooter on a bad team, but Suggs has a shot at middle-round returns right out of the gate. The ADP figures to be out ahead of the most sensible price range but Suggs' year-one ceiling is as good as any rookie's in the class.

Moritz Wagner, PF

Per-Game Value: 294 / 301 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 286 / 291 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 44

2020-21 Review: Wagner bounced around last season, failing to gain traction in Washington despite an early ACL tear for Thomas Bryant and then getting waived by the Celtics after a brief post-deadline cameo. He latched on with a Magic team that was limping to the finish and put his per-minute upside on display, though he still peaked as a 14-team option for the most part. His end-of-season run was actually quite fitting, as Wagner had a couple big games and the dropped some duds right after fantasy managers were persuaded to pick him up. He would have another nice night right after most GMs cut the cord again. At least it's predictable.

This Year: Wagner signed a two-year deal to stay with the Magic, and it's not surprising he would want to keep it going given that his short stint was some of the most success he's found at the NBA level. He'll be in the PF/C battle but will need to contend with Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Bamba, Robin Lopez, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke in order to carve out regular playing time. We're only confident that he's ahead of one of those guys as things stand now.

Injury History: Wagner, like most of his then-teammates in Washington, spent a couple weeks in the health and safety protocols but was not on the injury report for anything else last season. During the 20192- campaign Wagner missed two games with a left ankle sprain at the end of November and then 25 straight from mid-December to early February after re-spraining the same ankle. He battled a left knee bone bruise in Summer League as a rookie and had some foot/ankle issues in college as well.

Outlook: Wagner has a fighting chance as a young guy on a rebuilding squad but most of his competition fits that description too, so it's going to be tough for him to play value-sustaining minutes on a regular basis. There's top-200 upside but Wagner is best treated as a late dart throw in 20-team leagues.

Franz Wagner, SF

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Wagner is a rare sort of prospect who made a name for himself without any one true standout skill. He simply does a little bit of everything at a high level. Wagner boasts the size to play multiple positions, with good spacing and ball-handling abilities. He's got a high basketball IQ and just seems to put himself in the right spots constantly.

This Year: The Magic picked Wagner at No. 8 in the draft and he should immediately factor in as a wing/forward who will fit with any combination of players the Magic can cook up. Wagner has mastered most of the little skills that keep players in the league and he's got the looks of a high-level role player whose weakness might be scoring. The Magic have Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke and Gary Harris, as the most prominent guys in their wing group right now but Wagner should be good enough to get involved.

Injury History: Wagner suffered a broken wrist in 2019 but has fully recovered.

Outlook: It'll ride on playing time but seeing Wagner grab enough stats across the box to become a late-round value is not a crazy outcome. He's got long-term upside as a top-100 guy who's light on points but solid everywhere else (take a hint, dynasty GMs), but can be considered a late-round flier in 12-teamers this year.

*Originally published August 18, 2021