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

Answers Still To Come

Accompanying all the interviews from last week were videos with varying degrees of polish of Fultz shooting jumpers with his teammates. One of the final additions was the “sit down” video promised by Caron Butler that focused on Fultz’s youth basketball camp held in Hyattsville, Maryland.

It was a lot to take in.  And the aforementioned hype fog was thick — zero visibility.

But stripping all of the fluff away and boiling this down to the essential components yields an answer that is not necessarily fun or as sexy as exploring what a fully healthy Fultz means for the Magic’s win total.

The only absolute is that Fultz will participate in training camp Tuesday.

To his credit, Fultz has done nothing to stoke the fires of anticipation that he will play in the regular season. He repeatedly specified that he is only looking as far as training camp, and nothing more.

One might try to glean from his demeanor during certain interviews he will play for the team during this upcoming season, but Fultz himself refused to lay that in stone when asked point-blank.

It is not as fun as boarding the hype train, it is true. It is much more enjoyable to wonder which alley-oop connection will be the most prolific, and what percentage of his promise Fultz will fulfill.

It brings more glee to bask in fleecing the Philadelphia 76ers for a world-beating talent and gloating about how the Magic’s organizational patience is the best organizational patience.

Facts are facts, though. And the only available facts are: (1) the team was ready to announce Fultz was unrestricted in participating in training camp, (2) Fultz said he is excited to participate in training camp, and (3) Fultz would not confirm he would play in regular-season games, although he is eyeing the Magic’s preseason schedule already.

Still, the willingness on the part of the Magic and Fultz’s team to coordinate a PR blitz one week before training camp is a good sign itself worth some degree of excitement.

It is certainly not the same as watching him in a game. But Magic fans will know more about Fultz’s ability once training camp reports begin trickling out.

"“Markelle has looked amazing,” Jonathan Isaac said. “I know everybody is stuck on the shooting piece. But when I have played pickup with him, I’m forgetting how good this dude was when it comes just his all-around game. His ability to get into the lane, make great plays and make good decisions. The shooting piece will come. I’m reminded this is the Markelle that was so polarizing when he first came out.”"

In the modern age, even a spotlight that dim shines bright enough for something real about Fultz’s game at this point in his career to reveal itself.

Essentially, once training camp reports come out, some of the Markelle Fultz mystery will be solved. Until then, Fultz remains a huge question mark for this team.

And for that reason, Magic fans can get excited.

It is not as good as analyzing his on-court chemistry with Aaron Gordon, but it is something real. The hype and speculation will melt away and something true will uncover itself.

For the time being though, we only know Fultz will be at training camp.

So, Casey Kasem’s advice is good advice here.

Fans should keep their feet on the ground about Fultz and avoid committing to the notion that he will play in the regular season. But reach away for the stars and hope that training camp shows that Fultz is NBA-ready.

Philip Rossman-Reich contributed to this report.