Markelle Fultz – Orlando Magic

After being selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, the 76ers traded Markelle Fultz to the Orlando Magic ahead of the 2019-20 season. Fultz played in just 33 games with Philly due to injuries.

Since coming to Orlando, the young guard has improved his game and has tried to take his name out of the “overrated books” by averaging 12.2 points and 5.2 assists in Orlando, but the fifth-year guard has a lot to prove this upcoming year. 

Markelle Fultz is coming off of a torn ACL in his left knee, which caused him to miss 64 games last season, and it is unknown whether or not he will be ready to go for opening night.

Last year, the Magic drafted Cole Anthony to add to their backcourt, and this season, they selected Jalen Suggs fifth overall, signaling that this is a “make-or-break” year for Fultz. 

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The Magic now have Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton, and Michael Carter-Williams in their backcourt, so if Fultz does not play well, he could very well end up being without a job in this league. The 23-year-old guard is owed $50M through the 2023-24 season, so the Magic are stuck with him, but time is running out for Markelle Fultz in this league. 

Orlando is rebuilding right now, and if the former #1 overall pick cannot stay healthy and/or gets outplayed by either Anthony or Suggs, he will be out of the Magic’s rotation, and they will look to move him.

No team would likely be interested in his contract, given that Markelle Fultz has not played well early on in his career, meaning that he could potentially be bought out at some point. 

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Coming out of Washington in 2017, Markelle Fultz was a highly-rated shooter and scorer, but injuries have just derailed his chances to be great. Not only must he stay healthy for once during the 2021-22 season, but Fultz is going to have to show flashes of his potential to remain a key member of the Magic’s core.