3 Orlando Magic players who hurt their contract value in 2023-24

2. Markelle Fultz

Despite being picked first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, Markelle Fultz spent the majority of his NBA career with the Orlando Magic. He has already expressed a desire to stay in Orlando and be a part of this surging team going forward. His contract is coming to an end, however, and the Magic might decide to go with someone else instead. 

Fultz’s 2023-24 season did not boost his contract value. If anything, it probably hurt it. The 25-year-old was a number-one pick for a reason, but he never got a chance to fulfill his potential because of injuries. Over seven seasons in the league, he only played more than sixty games twice. 

2023-24 was just another season in which he spent a large number of games on the bench due to injuries. His minutes per game went down dramatically compared to the 2022-23 season, and he put up his lowest scoring average since his rookie season. 

Plus, Fultz still has not developed a three-point shot, and it is tough to be a role player in today’s NBA without an outside shot. The Magic need a point guard of Fultz’s caliber, but they cannot afford to have a non-shooter next to Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. The only one of those players who shot over 38 percent from three was Suggs. 

Another injury-ridden season and uncharacteristically low production probably hurt Fultz’s contract value, and teams will consider especially the former issue this summer.