5 reasons why the Orlando Magic have one of the best young cores

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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 19: Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 19, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

High-Level Patience

At some point potential energy has to become kinetic energy. There is only so long a team can wait on a player.

The four years a first-round pick gets on their rookie contract is usually considered enough time to get a good sense of what a player will be. Multiple front office executives would say by the end of that rookie contract, it should be clear what a player’s growth trajectory should be.

The Orlando Magic still are waiting on two high-level players. A lot of what the Magic are building will rely on where Markelle Fultz and Mohamed Bamba end up.

Their three combined seasons so far are marked with injuries. It would be easy to be pessimistic about them. And to some extent, tempering expectations — even the outsized expectations they had when entering the league — is fair.

But what they might ultimately become is equally as unknown.

Mohamed Bamba was the No. 4 high school prospect in the country for the Class of 2017. For a long time, he was considered a potential No. 1 pick. The Magic acquiring him with the sixth overall pick was a solid get, even if they understood he was a project who would need developing.

Markelle Fultz was much the same. He was the fifth-best prospect coming out of high school in the Class of 2016. And by the time he finished his lone year with the Washington Huskies, he was the clear-cut, unanimous top overall pick.

Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

That kind of potential does not just disappear. Especially since those players are still so young. Unproven yes, but far from the end of their development curves.

Whether Bamba or Fultz turn into something is still about getting them healthy. And health is a real concern.

Bamba’s injury — a stress fracture in his left tibia — is one that many believe he can make a full recovery from and will not recur. That is important. Orlando will let Mohamed Bamba continue to develop slowly behind Nikola Vucevic.

Fultz’s injury is a bit more complicated. There are few players in NBA history that have had thoracic outlet syndrome. And it is an injury he will have to manage carefully probably for the rest of his career.

But if both are healthy, both are still high-level players. It is rare for players of this much talent — who are already proving useful on NBA floors — to fall off the face of the earth. Neither may become the superstar the Magic need, but both can play roles in the league. Even if they do not get much better than they are now (provided they are healthy).

That is something worth talking about.