Orlando Magic must manage expectations, stay patient with Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz is now a member of the Orlando Magic. While there are still big expectations for what he can do, the team and its fans must stay patient.

Markelle Fultz has had a rough start to his short NBA career.

He was the number one pick in the 2017 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers with high expectations to be the player to push the Sixers out of their rebuild.

Then came a rare shoulder injury that messed up his shooting form altogether. As all of the drama with Markelle Fultz’s shoulder continued, the Sixers went on to succeed without him, becoming a contender in the Eastern Conference.

After not having a role needed for Fultz anymore and the team’s patience running low, they traded him to the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline for a first-round pick that is not likely to convey and Jonathon Simmons, who is out of their playoff rotation.

Orlando now has taken in Markelle Fultz to add to their already young core of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba. There is a ton of excitement about his return. Fultz jerseys already dot the Amway Center.

Many hope Fultz’s potential he showed us in his lone year with the Washington Huskies can eventually adapt to the NBA, especially Magic fans. But just like 76ers fans had to do, Magic fans will need to manage their expectations.

Even though he averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in college to earn that top overall pick — shooting 41.3 percent on 3-pointers — he has played sparingly since then.

He took longer than expected to recover from a knee injury that cut short that one year in college before the wrist and shoulder issues began. Fultz has played in only 33 career NBA games in two seasons. And while he has had some solid moments in averaging 7.7 points per game and 3.4 assists per game in 20.6 minutes per game, his shot and confidence seem to have deteriorated.

Changing scenery is as much about getting a fresh start for a young player as it is about giving him the space to get healthy again.

President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said when the team acquired him, the Magic’s priority was to continue his rehab at his pace. The Magic were not about to rush him back to the court.

The team almost immediately sent representatives to begin watching and understanding his rehab and injury in Los Angeles after acquiring him. It was about a month later that Fultz joined the team in Orlando to continue his rehab. Weltman said after the season being around the team was good for him to get familiar with the coaching staff and how they want players to play so he can hit the ground running.

But Weltman would not say how close Fultz might be to a return to the court, refusing to comment on his progress with his rehab. He would only say Fultz continues to work hard and put the time in.

There is certainly an expectation Fultz will be ready to play when training camp begins. But that seems like no guarantee. And nobody is sure what he will look like when that happens. His first set of games in a Magic uniform might as well be a completely new rookie season for Fultz.

Even with that understanding, it has been easy to watch fans get excited for Fultz’s potential. He has already been slotted with the team’s young core as part of the group the Magic will build around.

Fultz could come back and immediately be better than he was in the past, rekindling the spark that made him the top overall pick. But fans should not fully expect that.

Fultz has gone through a tough two years in this league and most likely still is not extremely confident in himself. He will need to get re-acclimated to the NBA game.

The Magic should do their best to give Fultz back that confidence, bring him back in slowly when he is fully healthy and not rush him back like the Sixers did in the past.

By all indications, Weltman agrees with this approach. They are not going to bank on Fultz being “first-overall-pick” Fultz right off the bat.

Fultz has a great chance to be the starting point guard the Magic want in the near future. They took a chance on him by trading for him. They hope he can grow along with the rest of the young team.

He might never be the knock-down three-point shooter he was in college. He might never become a 20-point-per-game scorer. He might never become a star in this league. But he still can develop into a good player.

Fultz should receive a lot of support and just play hard. That will be enough to get things started for him.

Magic fans will want him to dominate right away, but everyone should just be cheering for a healthy and improved player. One not afraid to shoot or be aggressive. Also, that Fultz can create for others and gel with his teammates he will play with.

Even with his injury, Fultz did a good job getting to the basket and getting others involved. But the shot is a major concern, obviously hampered by injury.

The Magic took a risk and it could work out greatly in the end. They have already shown patience and understanding in helping Fultz return. The organization will have to continue doing so as he works his way back onto the court.

As will the fans hoping for the best from Fultz.