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5 questions the Orlando Magic must answer in the third quarter of the 2022 season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jalen Suggs has had a rough start to his career but the Orlando Magic rookie is showing signs of life as he returns from injury. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen Suggs has had a rough start to his career but the Orlando Magic rookie is showing signs of life as he returns from injury. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz has some strong models he can follow as he recovers from injury. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s third quarter of the season

What will Markelle Fultz look like returning from injury?

Our top question throughout the season has been about the return from injury for Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz. It was one of the main goals president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman set out for the team at the beginning of the season.

For skeptical fans, it is abundantly clear the Orlando Magic plan to play both Fultz and Isaac at some point this season. Fans though are rightfully a bit frustrated by the lack of information on the progress of their recovery or when they might return.

At this point, we know Isaac is behind Fultz in his return to play. And we know that Fultz has been practicing with the team when they have been able to do so and working with the Lakeland Magic. It sure feels like Fultz is close.

For Fultz, it is a matter of when and not if he returns to the court.

Statistically, Fultz may not make a huge impact. He is obviously still going to be working his way back from injury. And after so long away from the court, it is hard to know exactly what the team will get when he does step on the court again.

Fultz has had so little time. The one full season he has played in his career came in 2020 where he averaged 12.1 points per game and 5.1 assists per game with a 48.8-percent effective field goal percentage. That season itself was interrupted by the pandemic and he was slow to integrate to the team and get back up to speed in the bubble.

He had no problem getting going to start the 2021 season, averaging 12.9 points per game and 5.4 assists per game. His shooting was starting to falter after a strong start, but Fultz never got the chance to recover. He tore his ACL just eight games into the season.

The Magic are in need of some lineup and rotational balance. Even just having Jalen Suggs back in the lineup has given them some much-needed balance. Fultz is an expert game manager and someone who knows how to run a team. He will help manage this team a ton and give them some needed point guard depth.

The Magic are obviously concerned with him being ready to play and play full-time. That is the delay in his return at the moment. But his next phase will be getting back up to speed on the court.

That will be the big task for the team in the next 20 games.