Orlando Magic: All we know is Markelle Fultz will be at training camp

Long-Awaited Moment

It was easy to get excited at this moment. After all, the Orlando Magic were so coy about Markelle Fultz since acquiring him at the trade deadline last season. All the team would offer is Fultz would not be rushed back and there was no timetable. Only that he was making progress.

To finally see Fultz on the court and count on him to be part of the team without restriction could only lead to further speculation, excitement and hype.

How do you not lose it if you are a diehard Magic fan?

But what must not get lost in these moments is what actually occurred and what was actually said.

"“From the day we acquired Markelle, he has done nothing but work, support his teammates, listen and figure out ways to already help us get better,” Jeff Weltman said. “He has been soaking up like a sponge his video lessons with the coaches, performance sessions with our groups and you guys saw he has made significant progress.”"

Weltman said the team has been excited about bringing Fultz in from the moment they acquired him. They view him as a potential impact player and someone who can help make others better.

Orlando Magic

But Weltman mentioned nothing beyond Orlando’s training camp. He has said nothing about the preseason, Fultz’s place in the rotation, or how many minutes the former first overall pick could take. Weltman said the team would remain taking a day-to-day approach with Fultz.

Fultz has echoed these sentiments. Although Fultz said Monday he is aiming to play in the Orlando Magic’s preseason opener Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. That will all be dependent on how he comes through a week of training camp.

But just as importantly, Fultz himself spoke about what, exactly, he can do and what the basketball world can expect at this time. Cutting through the hype fog, his answers were measured and almost boring.

"“My goal is only to go out there and have fun and help this team win,” Fultz said Monday. “I think if I do that, everything else will take care of itself. I don’t have any personal goals. I just want to go out there and appreciate playing the game of basketball.”"

Orlando’s patience has not ended.

It will continue to be a process for Fultz to get fully acclimated to playing again. He acknowledged that something he had to learn about Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is that working through it only makes it worse. He had to learn in his rehab when to take a step back and rest, fighting his inclination to work hard and play.

Fultz further admitted he is essentially still a rookie. He has played only 33 games across two seasons. Everyone — both Fultz and the Magic — understands he has to get himself back to game speed and he will make mistakes along the way.

This is truly a reset.