Orlando Magic: Top 10 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season
By Luke Duffy
7. Trading for Markelle Fultz
It was forgotten as the Magic managed to turn their fortunes around at this time, but trading for Markelle Fultz was a great move. It’s not often you get the chance to acquire a former first overall pick less than two years after he was drafted, but this was exactly what happened with the much-maligned point guard coming over just before the trade deadline.
Even better was the package it took to get Fultz: Jonathon Simmons, who had been struggling in Orlando and didn’t do anything subsequently after the trade, and two second round draft picks (one of which the Magic had gotten from the Oklahoma City Thunder).
Orlando Magic president Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond consider the Fultz acquisition as a low-risk, high-reward proposition. Magic will proceed with his arrival as long-term project and like chances w/ Steve Clifford and his staff getting to work with the former No. 1 pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
They didn’t have to include one of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac or Mohamed Bamba, or even sixth man Terrence Ross, who was integral in their run to the postseason. Fultz may not work out in Orlando, but this was a brilliant piece of business that solidify the Magic as a true up-and-coming roster.
That they were able to win without him this season only serves to take more pressure off him too. When he returns next season, he won’t be expected to turn everything around himself. A core is already in place that went to the postseason without him, and it will be able to ease Fultz back into the action.