‘Sky’s the limit’ for Fultz
Magic, fans confident that former No. 1 pick will revive his game
DEBAR — The Orlando Magic were high on guard Markelle Fultz leading up to the 2017 NBA draft, but they didn’t get the chance to select him because he went No. 1 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fast-forward to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Fultz is now a member of the Magic, and they see a bright future ahead for the 6-foot-4 guard.
“His size, his skill level, his vision, his competitiveness — this guy has the whole package,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said during a press conference at halftime of Thursday’s game against the Timberwolves.
“To have the physical profile of a Markelle Fultz, that big, strapping guard who can blow by you and attack the rim and just pressure you in all ways is something we’re all looking for. Those are the guys who can dominate games these days.”
Fultz was in Orlando on Friday to complete his physical, according to Weltman. He also reaffirmed what he said at Thursday’s press conference: He is confident Fultz will pass the physical.
The 20-year-old hasn’t played since Nov. 19 because of a nerve issue in his right shoulder that was eventually diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Fultz left the 76ers in early December to begin rehabilitation work on the injury in Los Angeles. He returned to Philadelphia in midJanuary to continue his rehab work with the team, but the 76ers did not set a timetable for his return.
The Magic also do not know when Fultz will return to game action, but Weltman said the plan
is to bring him along slowly.
“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,” Weltman said. “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.”
While that may not be what Magic fans want to hear, Weltman left little doubt about how the organization views Fultz. The Magic front office began to formulate much of that perspective during its preparation for the 2017 draft.
“As far as him fitting in here, we always say we try to bring in not just the player, but the person,” Weltman said. “All the background work that we did on Markelle prior to the draft [and] in the days leading up to [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 got all the ingredients you’re looking for.”
The Magic acquired Fultz from the 76ers minutes before Thursday’s trade deadline in exchange for reserve forward Jonathon Simmons, a 2020 first-round pick (top-20 protected pick belonging to the Thunder) and a 2019 second-round pick. That pick is the most favorable of Cleveland, Orlando, Houston or Portland but is expected to be Cleveland’s pick.
Fultz played in just 33 games during two injuryfilled seasons in Philadelphia. He has averaged 20.6 minutes during those two seasons, scoring 7.7 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent.
Fultz has 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 19 games this season.
Magic coach Steve Clifford, who spoke with Fultz on Friday, said he’ll have a better feel for his newest player’s game after he studies more film. Clifford plans to do some of that during the team’s three-game road trip that begins Saturday in Milwaukee and ends Tuesday in New Orleans.
Clifford came away from his initial conversation feeling a sense of enthusiasm from Fultz.
“I think he’s really excited,” Clifford said. “I think that he knows it’s a good opportunity for him and he was really, really excited.”
If Fultz can regain his pre-NBA form, the Magic could possess an elite guard who can score in multiple ways and create shots for teammates.
Fultz wowed scouts during his first and only season at Washington when he averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and earned thirdteam All-America honors. He shot 47.6 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Weltman said he will leave it up to others to decide if the move was a lowrisk one for the Magic. Even with Fultz’s injury history, Weltman said the upside was too great to pass up.
“I can definitely say it’s a high reward,” Weltman said. “There’s no question that it’s a high reward. Markelle Fultz was the No. 1 pick in the draft two years ago, and it wasn’t a fluke. I think the whole league had him there.
“So we believe that at 20 years old the sky’s the limit for him. And he’s got all the ingredients, not just the physical abilities, to blossom.”
Magic players, meanwhile, also expressed optimism that Fultz will thrive with his new team.
“Obviously I don’t know everything that went into it and why it didn’t work out for him, but sometimes it happens,” Magic center Nikola Vucevic said.
Vucevic, who played his rookie season in Philly before coming to the Magic for the 2012-2013 season, then offered a more insightful nugget.
“Guys that come from Philly to Orlando, it seems to work out pretty well,” he said with a smile. “So it might work out for [Fultz] as well.”
Fultz got an endorsement from Timberwolves reserve forward Dario Saric, who played with him in Philadelphia. Saric said his former teammate is a “very, very talented guy” who wasn’t a good fit with the 76ers.
“Obviously Markelle needed a fresh start [because] he couldn’t find himself with [how the] Sixers play,” Saric said after Thursday’s game. “In my opinion, they play different basketball than Markelle needs. Markelle is best with the ball, and I think the opportunity to come here in Orlando to have the ball in his hands is just great.”
Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, who was taken five picks after Fultz in the 2017 draft, knows Fultz from their time playing AAU basketball.
“I think for him the big thing is just getting healthy,” Isaac said. “I think if he gets healthy, he’ll be back to his old self, just playing the game he loves. So get him healthy, get him integrated and let’s play ball.”
Magic fans will second that.