Jalen Suggs (PG, ORL) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 4

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 62% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Moment of silence for the haters. (...) Alright, that's it. The Orlando Magic might have taken a couple of huge swings when it comes to drafting prospects in the past two editions of the Draft. In reverse order, it was kinda surprising to see Paolo Banchero getting drafted as the no. 1 this past summer, and it was an absolute shocker to find Jalen Suggs' name announced as far back as the no. 5 pick in 2021.

Drafting sacks so "late", let's say, meant two things: 1) that Suggs might not be seen as such a talented player as hype painted him while in college, and 2) that Orlando still believed in him as much as I do. Suggs, of course, had a forgettable rookie season last year finishing 2022 averaging 12 PPG, 3 RPG, 4 APG, and somehow a total of minus-1.7 WS for the Magic. In only 48 games played, of course.

Suggs, though, has had a much better start to his sophomore season. He's now scoring 13 PPG, pulling down 1+ RPG, dishing out nearly 5 APG, and also contributing almost 2.5 SPG. Yes, the boards are easily identifiable as his main problem these days, but remember that this guy is a guard playing in a team that boasts huge beasts such as Paolo Banchero (8.5 RPG), Wendel Carter (9.5), Bol Bol (7.2), and Chuma Okeke (4.5). It's not that rebounds are out there available for the tiny guys.

While he was forced out of the rotation from Oct. 21 through the end of the month, Suggs has re-entered the starting lineups in his most-recent couple of games with another one added to that (off-the-pine appearance) back on Nov. 1. Suggs had a career game against the Warriors last Thursday starting, playing 36 minutes, and dumping 26 pops on the Dubs with 9 AST, 4 STL, and 1 RBD. The kid shot 52.9 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from he charity stripe on 17 FGA and 11 FTA.

One of only four players with 1+ 3PM per game, 4+ APG, and 2+ SPG through Saturday. The other ones: Dejounte Murray, Darius Garland, and Fred VanVleet. Not bad company if you ask me.

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