Since getting into the league in 2017, Markelle Fultz has had one of many strangest profession trajectories of any first-overall decide in current reminiscence. After combating well being—together with a perplexing breakdown of taking pictures mechanics—for 2 years in Philadelphia, he was shipped off to the Orlando Magic. In Orlando, Fultz skilled a little bit of a profession renaissance and established himself as a stable NBA participant. Nevertheless, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the harm bug bit Fultz as soon as once more. Over the course of 5 common seasons with the Magic, Fultz managed simply 201 video games. Damage historical past apart, it’s nonetheless a bit uncommon to see Fultz at the moment and not using a job, given his age and pedigree as a former number-one decide.
As NBA Coaching Camp Approaches Markelle Fultz Stays Unsigned
Markelle Fultz’s Present Choices
With coaching camp lower than a month away, Fultz’s choices are rapidly dwindling. As of this writing, there are solely seven NBA groups who nonetheless have roster spots obtainable. At this level, it’s wanting more and more extra doubtless that Fultz should settle for a one-year vet-minimum deal. After all, that every one assumes Fultz nonetheless needs to increase his profession within the NBA. It’s doable that the previous primary general decide might settle for a profitable supply from abroad—one which presents him way more alternative and stability. Though Fultz remains to be very younger (26), the abroad route is a course we’ve seen a number of notable NBA veterans take this offseason, together with Cedi Osman, Patrick Beverley, and Darius Bazley.
What Fultz Nonetheless Has to Supply
Fultz has by no means come near reaching the stardom that’s usually anticipated of most first-overall picks, however he has confirmed himself to be a helpful—albeit restricted—backup and function participant. When wholesome, Fultz has constantly proven an intriguing knack for playmaking—with two profession triple-doubles to indicate for it. Moreover, Fultz has all the time proven a propensity for wreaking havoc on the defensive finish, aided by his stout positional measurement. In the appropriate setting, there isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that Fultz might expertly lead any staff’s second. With a very good invoice of well being, Fultz might even make an attention-grabbing case to be a darkish horse Sixth Man of the Yr candidate.
The Final Phrase
All issues thought of, it makes a good quantity of sense for the Magic to maneuver on from Markelle Fultz presently. With a handful of youthful, extra closely invested gamers already on their roster, Fultz was doubtless a considerably decreased function going into the 2024-2025 season. Moreover, these youthful, extra invested gamers—primarily Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black—have talent units that overlap an ideal take care of Fultz’s.
If Fultz is ready to discover a new house, search for the again finish of his NBA profession to look so much like Ricky Rubio’s. Whereas Fultz will not be fairly the identical degree passer or playmaker, he can have an analogous influence. From 2019-2023, Rubio was a wonderfully helpful influence function participant for groups just like the Suns, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers. A wholesome Markelle Fultz can do a lot of the identical.
