Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 36: A new outlook on the future

A new season has brought new expectations and new challenges for the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
A new season has brought new expectations and new challenges for the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic
Markelle Fultz’s promise has Orlando Magic fans hungering for when he can take over the starting job. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Fultz’s Future

It is getting awfully tempting to push Markelle Fultz into the starting lineup sooner rather than later. Even a patient person like me cannot deny the impact Fultz has had through the early part of the season.

Even without efficient shooting, Fultz just gets the ball moving. He is able to penetrate and get into the lane and has great awareness to pass. There is no coincidence that right now Fultz leads the team in assists and is one of the team’s top scorers.

Fultz is averaging 11.0 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. While he still has to work on getting his shot more consistent, he is posting a 51.3 percent effective field goal percentage. Most of his attempts come at the rim and he is confident enough in his pull-up mid-range game that he can keep defenses honest.

More important than that, it is hard to take your eyes off him. He is able to draw the defense’s attention, even with his inconsistent offense. And that is where he will whip a pass seemingly out of nowhere to the open man.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

This was shocking to fans at first, but everyone on the team seems to believe this is normal.

One thing the Magic missed in their playoff run last year was that element of unpredictability off the bounce. Orlando could only run through their sets and not create much in late-clock situations.

If Fultz can keep up this level of creation, he certainly could help solve some of those issues. He has to this point.

The Magic are +4.0 points per 100 possessions with Fultz on the floor so far this season, including a 92.0 defensive rating. The Magic have a 96.0 offensive rating with Fultz on the floor too.

Those numbers suggest Fultz is making a positive impact. But nothing otherworldly. The Magic are nearly as good with D.J. Augustin at there. The two are at least similar in the early-season numbers.

I would continue to advise patience when it comes to Fultz. His start has been really impressive without a doubt. And the Magic have put him in a position to succeed. Playing him at the end of the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors games already this season has shown tremendous trust.

But it is still a long season. I would anticipate Fultz remains the backup for most of the season with the chance to finish games when he is playing well. The fact remains this team desperately needs Augustin’s floor-spacing and shooting.

And Fultz is essentially still a rookie. He is probably going to hit a wall of some type during the season. I think Orlando is right to proceed with caution. but it is also reasonable to think Fultz will get better.

I suspect Fultz remains the backup for the foreseeable future. But this one is definitely a wait and see. It looks like the Magic’s excitement for Fultz is more than warranted at this point.