Orlando Magic Daily
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10 observations from the Orlando Magic’s first 10 games

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have gotten off to a slow start this season. But there are signs of hope and concern. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have gotten off to a slow start this season. But there are signs of hope and concern. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic, Markelle Fultz
The Orlando Magic added Markelle Fultz to their lineup, hoping he can help shake their offense loose. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Markelle Fultz is going to make a difference

Entering the season, nobody really knew what they were going to get from Markelle Fultz.

He was the ultimate wild card. He could either be a reclamation project that had little chance for success — a player really beyond recovery who could not do much without a consistent jumper. Or he could be a potential All-Star and difference-maker who would give the Orlando Magic a creator they have not had in a very long time.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. He is not a runaway All-Star. But he is certainly pretty useful.

The team is trying to manage him carefully and ensure both his health and his confidence. But there is already a restlessness among fans and observers to see more of him.

The Markelle Fultz trade is a success just on that aspect alone. He is a quality role player at the least. And the Magic are right to continue their investment in him.

Through 10 games, Fultz is averaging 9.2 points per game and 3.1 assists per game. He is shooting 47.1 percent from the floor (although just 18.2 percent from beyond the arc). He has played in all 10 games and has a willingness to shoot (even if he is not making). That is a step forward.

The Magic have been pretty good with Fultz on the floor. They have a 104.1 offensive rating and a 100.6 defensive rating with Fultz on the floor, both better than the team’s averages. The team’s +3.5 net rating with Markelle Fultz on the floor trails only Jonathan Isaac.

Starting Fultz was the right decision. It was something the team was going to do eventually. Doing it so soon was perhaps a signal of the team’s offensive crisis. But Fultz was clearly coming for the spot.

Now the team is just waiting to be comfortable enough to ramp him up to true starter’s minutes.

Regardless of anything else, Fultz has proven he can be an impactful player. A very impactful player. And it will be interesting to see what happens when he can finally stop worrying about his health and start developing his skills.