The Magic made a move at the trade deadline on Thursday that could have a major impact on their future. Orlando acquired 2017 first overall pick Markelle Fultz from the Sixers in exchange for Jonathon Simmons, a protected 2020 first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick.
A phantom shoulder injury, eventually diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome, plagued Fultz’s tenure in Philadelphia and limited him to just 33 games in parts of two seasons. In just 19 games (15 starts) this season, Fultz averaged 8.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 3.1 APG. However, he will have the opportunity for a fresh start with a new organization, which excites Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, per Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel.
Weltman addressed the acquisition of Fultz at a press conference during halftime of Orlando’s win over the Timberwolves.
On what a healthy Fultz can bring to Orlando…
“His size, his skill level, his vision, his competitiveness. This guy has the whole package. To have the physical profile of a Markelle Fultz, that big, strapping guard who can blow by you and attack the rim and can just pressure on you in all ways is something we’re all just looking for. Those are the guys who can dominate games these days.”
When the team expects to have Fultz on the court…
“As to the timetable, you guys have heard me say this to the point where you probably don’t want to hear me say it again, but I will anyway. We’re going to do it right. We are not going to do it fast. We look forward to getting him in here, getting our arms around him, [and] understanding everything that he’s dealing with. Getting him through that, it’s our job organizationally, from the performance directors to the coaches to all of us to put him in a position to succeed. And however long that takes, that’s how long it’ll take.”
Where Fultz will fit in with the current core of the Magic…
“As far as him fitting in here, we always say we try to bring in not just the player but the person. All the background work that we did on Markelle prior to the draft [and] in the days leading up to today [Thursday] have just informed us that he’s an exceptional young guy. He’s team-oriented, he’s coachable, he’s a hard worker, he’s a competitor. He’s kind of got all the ingredients that you’re looking for.”
“…He’s kind of got all the ingredients that you’re looking for.”
Except a shot that goes in the basket.
He used to have a shot that went in though. He was a strong #1 pick and a 40% 3 point shooter in college. And plenty of NBA players went from not knowing how to shoot at all to being great shooters with the skill coaches around the NBA. If it was an injury, give it time to heal. If it’s mechanics, it can be fixed.
So was all of this part of “The Process” ??
It’s amazing. 3 top picks virtually completely wasted in less than 5 years. But home runs on the other two (would be grand slams if not for the injury concerns).
It does happen. Prospects dont always pan out. Look at the Suns drafts. Heat got Wade one time got Beasley the next. Look at all the guys that are Stars drafted at the end of the lottery and beyond. Kawhi. Giannis. PG13. Gobert. Everyone slept on those goes.
He excels at keeping the bench warm.
It’s either physical or mental. His summer shooting Coach said he worked hard. Jimmy Butler said he worked hard. If it’s physical, it’s correctable. If it’s mental, who knows. Steve Clifford took time off last year because his mental state caused physical problems. At least Clifford can somewhat relate.
Fultz has a triple double in an NBA game. He will come back. Look at Rose? He made it back from worse.
Lol. Rose was an MVP and a superstar. Fultz is yet to prove he is a third string guard. Please don’t compare the two again because it is laughable
I was comparing injuries comebacks not talent. Fultz will make an All Star game.
Don’t ever compare dude to rose. Rose was a MVP type talent and was one of the best .
Spike Eskin? Stick to fake trades. Fultz got a triple double in garbage time in a 35 pts blowout where the starters played less than 22 minutes from the Bucks.
I feel like Philly just gave up on him. With the right coaching. Dude could be a decent player if not better.
The only time this kid showed aggressive play was leading upto the deadline to pick up his option. After it was picked up he shut it down.
Two other Philly fails, Nerlens & Jah, are looking better recently, outside of The Process. But they have great size. . . I don’t recall this “big, strapping” Fultz. Indeed I think the size of NBA players is a problem for him, because he would prefer to be big & strapping in comparison to opponents.
I would say he has good coordinated launching power at twitch speed. He wins with nerves and he’s out with nerves.
Orlando is a good landing spot for him, if not for Orlando 2019.
What
Orlando could have gone for someone to help with the playoff push this year. They are 3 games (and seven years) out.
It’s tough because making the playoffs doesn’t really do anything. They obviously have no chance of getting through the East. Tanking is the better way to go, but hanging onto Vuč and Ross doesn’t exactly scream tanking.
It will hurt if Vucevic leaves. Frankly he should, if the FO is going to prioritize the future.