Magic Fantasy Basketball Update | Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze and More

Discussing the best Orlando Magic fantasy basketball options so far this season.

Our next fantasy basketball update will focus on the Orlando Magic. Orlando is 15-7 on the season and winners of eight of the last 10 contests.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have led the team from a fantasy perspective. Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze have also helped out.

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Paolo Banchero Fantasy Outlook

Banchero is the team leader in minutes per game (33.5). He’s averaging 20.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1 steal and 0.6 blocks, while committing 2.4 fouls and 3 turnovers.

Banchero is shooting 49.4% overall, 40.6% on his 3-pointers and 68.6% from the free throw line. His overall percentage and 3-point clip is far better than the ones he produced in his rookie season. It’s helped him score a touch more, and he’s also got more assists, steals and blocks on average than a season ago. His rebounds are just slightly down.

The second-year player sits in 42nd on the FantasySP trade value charts. He had an average draft position of 36, so he’s playing just a little bit below expectations.

Banchero is a pretty well-rounded player, and that’s always a plus for fantasy purposes. You could throw his name on the trade block and see what kind of deals you get offered. You could land a center or guard if you are lacking there. Banchero could also land you a couple depth pieces to better round out your team. If I were trading for Banchero, I’d offer up a couple players instead of just one guy myself, as two players would help you match some of the averages the Magic forward produces.

Franz Wagner Fantasy Outlook

Wagner has been better than anticipated this season. His ADP was 65, and his current trade value chart number puts him in 47th. 

He’s averaging 33.1 minutes, 20.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks, while committing 2 fouls and 1.7 turnovers. Banchero is shooting 46.2% overall and 31.8% from deep. He’s also 84% from the line.

Wagner has steadily improved, and is now averaging the most points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in his three-year career. Despite playing a bit more and getting up 2.5 shots more per game, his shooting percentage is down just 2.3% overall. His 3-point percentage is nearly 5% down, but does a bit more on the court to still be a good fantasy option.

If you drafted Wagner, you have to be thrilled with the production you’ve gotten back to this point. He seems like a sell high kind of player, but I also like Wagner’s fantasy outlook going forward, so I’d hold on to Wagner. If you want to acquire Wagner, it’s going to take a pretty good individual fantasy talent, or a couple of promising depth guys.

Cole Anthony Fantasy Outlook

Anthony has come off the bench in all 22 games, but is averaging 26 minutes per game. He’s also averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks, while committing 3 fouls and 2 turnovers.

Anthony is shooting 45.2% overall and 36.5% from deep. He is 84.8% from the line.

He is averaging about the same amount of minutes as last year, but 2.4 more points. His shooting percentages are just about identical to last season. Anthony is averaging less rebounds, assists and blocks, so the extra points are definitely a plus.

Anthony checks in 98th on the trade value charts after an ADP of 148. Like Wagner, you have to love what Anthony has done if you drafted him. Seeing that he’s coming off the bench, you could look to sell high on Anthony and land a starter who averages a few more minutes per game and gives you a better chance for fantasy points. Since he’s not starting, I wouldn’t actively try to add Anthony, unless he’s part of a bigger deal. 

Jalen Suggs Fantasy Outlook

Suggs is 140th on the trade player charts after an ADP of 179. He’s played 20 games and averaged 26 minutes, 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.6 blocks, while committing 2.1 turnovers and 2.9 fouls.

Suggs is shooting 44.9% overall, 36.5% from deep and 81.5% from the line. His minutes are up, and he’s responded with more points, rebounds, steals and blocks per game so far. His shooting percentages have also gone up across the board.

The third-year player is currently dealing with an ankle injury, but it doesn’t appear to be a very serious issue.

Suggs is currently owned in 70% of leagues, so he’s probably not a huge trade asset, unless he’s a filler in a larger deal. When healthy, he’s a pretty good fantasy option and should be above the 75% own mark.

Wendell Carter Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Carter ranks 174th on the trade value charts after having an ADP of 102.

He has played in just five games so far, averaging 29.4 minutes, 9.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks, while committing 2.8 fouls and 1.6 turnovers. Carter is shooting 37.8% overall and 31.3% from deep. He’s just 57.1% from the line.

It’s a bummer that he’s missed so much time, because his averages could definitely help fantasy owners out. Right now, he’s owned in 73% of leagues.

His own percentage should jump back up when he returns, which should be any day now. Until he gets more game action, he’s not a huge trade asset.

Goga Bitadze Fantasy Outlook

Bitadze has picked up some of the slack with Carter out. He’s owned in 23% of leagues and sits 176th on the trade value charts.

Bitadze has started 17 of the 20 games he’s appeared in, averaging 20.6 minutes, 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.7 steals, while committing 2.4 fouls and 0.7 turnovers. He is shooting 57.4% overall, 20% from deep and 71.4% from the line.

He has been a solid piece for the Magic so far, but could see his playing time dip when the Magic get closer to full strength. His fantasy value would obviously dip if he isn’t getting enough playing time.

Other Fantasy Outlooks

Markelle Fultz is averaging 28.6 minutes this season, but has appeared in just five games. He’s been out with a knee injury, but hopefully can return soon. When on the court, Fultz is a double-digit scorer and also adds in a healthy amount of assists and rebounds.

Gary Harris has averaged 21.6 minutes across 17 games and three starts. His 3-point percentage is down 7% from last year, so his scoring has dipped a touch. He doesn’t do much else consistently, so he’s owned in just 1% of leagues.

Moritz Wagner has averaged 19.4 minutes across 22 games, all off the bench. He’s shooting 63.3% overall and averaging 12.5 points. Wagner only averages 4.3 rebounds and not much else, so he’s only owned in 42% of leagues. Until he can grab more rebounds or get a few more minutes, he’ll likely remain under 50% owned.

Anthony Black has started 16 of the 20 games he’s appeared in, but only averages 19.2 minutes and 5.1 points. He doesn’t do much else consistently, so he’s owned in just 2% of leagues.

Joe Ingles has averaged 18.7 minutes across 22 games played, all off the bench. He averages 3.5 assists, but not many other solid averages to be a decent fantasy asset outside deeper leagues. He’s owned in just 2% of leagues.

Jonathan Isaac has played 15 games off the bench and averages 13.4 minutes. He averages 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds, but simply needs more playing time to be a solid fantasy asset. Isaac is owned in just 7% of leagues and is currently dealing with an ankle injury.

Most of these guys are solid rotational pieces for Orlando, but injuries or lack of playing time are keeping them from being reliable fantasy options. If any big-name players miss extended time, these guys would help fill the void.

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