NBA Trade Grades: Magic take on Markelle Fultz from 76ers
By Luke Duffy
Orlando Magic
The Magic may have finally found a long-term solution to their problems at the point guard position, and it comes in the form of a former first overall draft pick. Taking Fultz may have some risk attached, but for what they gave up, it was a no-brainer.
The Thunder pick (currently slated for No. 24) could come back to haunt them down the road, but the prospect of having this deal on the table and not pulling the trigger would have served as a bigger “what if” for the organization. The Magic have also had their fair share of regrets, so one more pick isn’t going to tip them over the edge.
They gave up on Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris too early, and had both Dario Saric and Domantas Sabonis in their grasp before flipping both of them before they’d ever suited up in the pinstriped blue. Spending a first round pick, and the less important second-rounder, was worth it.
Sources: The Orlando Magic had opportunity to move Terrence Ross to Philadelphia vs Jonathon Simmons, but Orlando chose to keep Ross and add in the future OKC 1st instead. The Magic will continue to push for a playoff spot this season by keeping Ross and All-Star Nikola Vucevic.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 7, 2019
The questions around the health of Fultz will continue now that he has found a new home, but he is more hidden down in Orlando. The Magic’s quest to make the playoffs is admirable, but they will likely to fall short. When Fultz returns, he will be able to play and grow alongside a young core of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba.
That foursome will look pretty fearsome if they all come close to reaching their potential together. This move also means that fans won’t riot if the front office don’t use their own first round pick in this summer’s draft on a point guard. One was desperately needed before, but less so now.
https://twitter.com/gswchris/status/1093597420833755136
More than all of this, the addition of Fultz brings some buzz back to the team as well. The Magic never managed to snag a first overall pick for all of their losing, and his presence will get others talking about them again.
The Magic have been as irrelevant as any organization over the last seven years, but when Fultz comes back they are sure to become an interesting League Pass team again. The price paid was not hefty either, making this reclamation project an easy one to get behind.
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