I know it may seem strange that the Magic would get such a low grade for trading a second-round pick, but it may not have been in their best interest. Reeves is a 23-year-old who played five seasons in college, meaning he is one of the most experienced and NBA-ready players around. He is a two-way player who could have helped the Magic on both ends of the floor.
He would have given the Magic the three-point shooting they desperately need, as well as the ability to score at all levels and the ability to create his own shot. He also has an extremely high defensive IQ and the potential to be a very good defender in the NBA,
Getting a player with such potential and giving him away in exchange for two second-round picks in the 2030s doesn’t seem like equal value in return. Reeves could have been a great pick and he has a reputation as a hard worker.
On the other hand, he hasn’t played a regular season game yet and would have been a bit more of a project as a prospect. For at least this season, he probably wouldn’t have been in the rotation. So you can’t criticize the Magic too much, as it probably wouldn’t have really affected them this season. However, he could have made some plays and been a rotation player after a season or two.
This is by far the best pick the Magic have made this offseason, and it earned them an A+. Talk about a perfect matchup. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is an elite shooter, capable of defending the opposing team’s best guard, and to top it all off, he’s a two-time NBA champion.
He’s seen and experienced what it takes to become a champion, and he has a lot to teach the Magic’s young core as they become a real threat in the Eastern Conference. Caldwell-Pope and Suggs are going to be an absolute defensive problem for the other backcourts, and the Magic’s defensive identity just got stronger.
Caldwell-Pope also shot 40.6 percent from three-point range last year and showed no signs of slowing down. Despite being 31 years old, Caldwell-Pope shot his third-best percentage from behind the line and still appears to have some good years ahead of him. While this could be considered a slight overpay, it’s acceptable to overpay a bit to secure the possible missing piece to this starting five.
This is an exceptional move by the Orlando Magic management, and he rightfully deserves one of their two A+ grades of the offseason. This move could go down as one of the most underrated of the summer as the season draws to a close. Hopefully, Caldwell-Pope can bring his winning talent to Orlando and prove why this is an A+ move.
