Orlando Magic acquire Markelle Fultz at NBA Trade Deadline
The Orlando Magic made a future play at point guard at the NBA trade deadline, acquiring former top overall pick Markelle Fultz from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Orlando Magic for six years were hoping and praying to land the top pick in the draft. They were hoping they would get the Lottery luck that has staked their franchise for most of their 30 years.
It never came and the Magic got stuck in the hamster wheel of rebuilding and hoping and tanking and trying to win.
The Magic may not be quite out of that hamster wheel yet. There is likely another Lottery ticket coming this year — although the team is four games out of the final Playoff spot and playing meaningful games.
But Orlando has its top overall pick — albeit a year late and with plenty of questions.
The Orlando Magic have acquired 2017 first overall pick Markelle Fultz from the Philadelphia 76ers, trading away Jonathon Simmons, the Oklahoma City Thunder first round pick in 2020 (likely to go in the 20s) and a 2019 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick (likely a top pick in the second round.). Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the deal.
The Magic are sending Jonathan Simmons, a first-round and a second-round pick to the Sixers, per sources. https://t.co/f724l2eSVS
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
In doing this move, the Magic take a bit of a gamble on a talented player who has dealt with some strange injury issues and confidence issues. But they may also have grabbed the scorer and point guard the team has been searching for in a long time.
Markelle Fultz has played a total of 33 games in his two seasons with the 76ers. He is averaging 7.7 points and 3.4 assists per game in 20.6 minutes per game. Of more note is the injuries he has faced in his short NBA career.
He had a shoulder injury that kept him from playing for much of his rookie year. Expected to make a comeback for the start of this coming season, Fultz suffered a strange change to his jumper that saw his field goal percentage drop to 41.4 percent total. He is barely better than 50 percent at the foul line.
The relationship between Fultz and the 76ers deteriorated a bit when the team misdiagnosed his injury this year. They seemed to believe his shooting issues were about form and confidence and worked to remake his shooting storke. But that was not the case.
Fultz was officially diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, an issue that affects the nerves between the shoulder and neck, in December, he has been out ever since.
It is unclear whether Fultz will be able to play the rest of this season. Considering what the Magic gave up, they are not likely to push for his quick return. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Magic view this as a long-term investment with few risks to them at the moment.
Orlando Magic president Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond consider the Fultz acquisition as a low-risk, high-reward proposition. Magic will proceed with his arrival as long-term project and like chances w/ Steve Clifford and his staff getting to work with the former No. 1 pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
Obviously, if Fultz can get back to what he was with the Washington Huskies in college, this would be a huge pickup. There, Fultz was the clear top overall pick averaging 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. He was a dynamic guard who could create his own shot off the dribble, finish around the rim and drive and dish.
His shoulder injury and nerve issues have sapped a lot of confidence and ability from him. Priority one for the Magic is ensuring he is healthy and then putting him in positions to succeed, grow and improve.
The impressive part for Orlando is how little the team gave up.
Jonathon Simmons has struggled a lot this year after recovering from offseason wrist surgery that kept him away from basketball for months. He is averaging 6.9 points per game, but shooting just 36.4 percent from the floor. He has fallen out of the rotation in favor of Wesley Iwundu. The Magic did not disrupt their rotation at all to make this deal and get a potential long-term asset.
The two picks the Magic gave up could have some value but could be worth the risk of acquiring a former top overall pick. The Cavaliers’ second-round pick is likely to be at the start of the second round and the Thunder 2020 pick is likely to land in the 20s.
Jeff Weltman and John Hammond once again are dealing away late first-round picks, but this haul seems to be a lot more intriguing than their other forays out of the first round.
Orlando has acquired a supremely talented player who can help drive the offense from the point guard position. But the issue is whether Fultz can get healthy again.
Next. Orlando Magic trade value column 2019. dark
And that is a big question mark that remains.