Former number one overall pick Markelle Fultz is set to join the Magic in training camp as he looks to get back on track after being traded by the 76ers.
Markelle Fultz Looking to Start Over
Former number one overall pick in the NBA draft, Markelle Fultz, looks to jump start a career that has had more stops than starts. To explain why it didn’t work out in Philly would take a novel. Surely at some point a book will be written about the Markelle Fultz 76ers relationship.
That’s the past and Orlando is the future. As for the present, Fultz will be reporting to Orlando Magic training camp. The Magic released the following video to let their fans know.
It’s interesting that the Magic would dedicate an entire video to him shooting jump shots. It seems like the new shot, whatever that means with Fultz, is still there. The amount of time spent talking about his jumper in his short career is crazy at this point. This video will not help with that.
Orlando Excited to Have Him
The Magic are not a good team. That’s a good thing for Fultz truth be told. Part of the problem for him in Philly is the amount of expectation. Usually when you are the 1st overall pick, you’re going into a situation where the team that drafted you are just hoping to be better than they were the year before. Fultz walked into a situation where by his 2nd season, his team had championship aspirations.
To be clear, Fultz had nothing to do with those aspirations. He was put into the starting lineup last year to start the season. It was a move that drew a lot of criticism after only a few games as it was clear they couldn’t have another non shooter in the starting lineup. While Ben Simmons shoots the ball even worse from the outside than Fultz does, he does so many other things well. That being said even he has realized that his outside shot needs to improve if the 76ers want to take that next step.
Fultz Needs to Figure Out What He Is
Is Markelle Fultz a point guard or shooting guard? That’s a legitimate question as he hasn’t really been either since being drafted. In college he was a combo guard who would score first but displayed the ability to get teammates involved. The problem is there has been no sign of the player he was at the University of Washington since this mysterious shoulder injury he has been diagnosed with.
If he’s going to ever come close to reaching his full potential, he will need to figure out what position he will play and do his best to improve. The indecisiveness he’s shown so far as an NBA player needs to be buried. There is a player in there and the Magic training staff is hoping they have the keys to unlock it.
Magic President Jeff Weltman says the team will remain patient. That quote is funny considering he has no choice. He can’t possible expect to rush back a guy who has played a total of 33 games since being drafted. Markelle Fultz needs to be handled with extra care which is why he should be safe with the low expectations in Orlando.
