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Orlando Magic: Grading Markelle Fultz’s 2019-20 NBA season

By Luke Duffy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Markelle Fultz’s final grade

It might be unfair on his Magic teammates, but Fultz gets graded on a different curve than everybody else. There was so much mystery surrounding him coming into the year, but he arrived with a controlled bang. We should have known this was on the cards, the Magic did have an impromptu media day before the year began to show off Fultz.

Even taking away the past of Fultz, there was still so much to like about how he played. The passing ability is already the best on the roster, and if anything he is too willing to find others at this point. That balance will change as he gets more comfortable, and how he gets into the paint is well above average when compared to everybody else in the league.

Defensively there is an elite player hiding in there. Somebody who, because of his body type, could even switch onto bigger players as he gets more comfortable in the schemes coach Clifford uses. He’s not exactly P.J. Tucker, but he’s a strong individual who will be hard to bully off his spots once he’s set.

The shooting needs a lot of work, but to step into and make some 3-pointers in the playoffs, as well as show a high level in how he gets off his midrange shots, was a really encouraging start. It wasn’t great, but it also wasn’t as bad as you might think either. It just looked worse than it was because the form was off-putting. But if it goes in, does it really matter?

If anything Fultz has raised expectations considerably heading into year two with the Orlando Magic. It seems pretty clear that he is the young guard to build around, so the organization doesn’t need to go looking for anybody else in that area. He also got Magic fans excited, as evidenced by their reactions to all that he did on social media. After all they’ve been through, perhaps that’s the most impressive thing of all.

Grade: A-

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