3 best Orlando Magic moments of 2019
By Luke Duffy
2. Trading for Markelle Fultz
If Nikola Vucevic receiving an All-Star selection in 2019 was a nod to the difficult road the Orlando Magic had taken to in order to get to that point, then trading for Markelle Fultz before the February deadline gave us a glimpse into an exciting and not too distance future.
Even before he had played a game, it was already one of the best moments of 2019 because of the hope it gave Magic fans and the temporary hysteria it instilled in them. Jonathan Isaac has proven to be a great selection and may one day be the cornerstone of the franchise, while Aaron Gordon is the best two-way player they have at this moment.
But neither had shown in college that they should be a first overall pick, which is exactly what Fultz was when the Philadelphia 76ers selected him back in 2017 (the same year Isaac went sixth overall). He allowed Magic fans to do something which had been a rarity since the early stages of the decade, and dream about what the future might hold.
That they only had to give up Jonathon Simmons and what amounted to three second-round picks to get him made it feel like a steal as well, assuming he ever made it back onto the court. This was the icing on the cake, as Fultz returned in time for the start of this season and quickly proved good enough to be inserted into the starting lineup.
Just as well, as fan favorite D.J. Augustin appears to have regressed from his career year of last season. He still has a long way to go, and in some ways there may be too much expected of him already, but no matter what the Fultz trade was a huge win not just for what he is doing already, but more importantly what he may be a key part of in the future.