Price: Fultz pain free, hopes to return in 3-4 weeks

[Knightro]

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If it were up to Markelle Fultz, he would’ve been on the floor for the Orlando Magic’s 94-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday at Amway Center.

Fultz, the sixth-year guard who’s been sidelined since fracturing his big left toe during the offseason in September right before training camp started, is no longer wearing a boot and hasn’t experienced pain in his left foot for at least a couple of weeks.

But there are significant steps that need to be taken in his return-to-play process. The main ones: Knowing the fracture has fully healed and getting cleared to do more in practice.

“I feel good, ready to play,” Fultz told the Orlando Sentinel Wednesday evening before the Magic’s win over the Mavericks. “Just waiting on that day to get cleared.”

The last scan he got, which he said was about two weeks ago, showed the toe improved but wasn’t fully healed.

He’s supposed to get another scan this week to see if the bone has healed completely — the significant step before getting cleared.

“I haven’t felt anything for a minute so it’s kind of weird because I didn’t feel anything before my last scan and then it came back it healed some but not to their liking,” Fultz said. “So hopefully this next scan is fully healed and I’m able to get the green light to get a few practices under my belt and go out there and play.”

Fultz hopes to make his season debut “within the next 3-4 weeks” but understands his return to play will depend on the status of his next scan and how he responds to the ensuing ramping-up process.

Read more: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-orlando-magic-markelle-fultz-fractured-toe-injury-update-20221110-vj7fex7sjrb5lkiov4njkusmx4-story.html ($)

[tooler]

Conclusion: the medical staff is in on it.

[Def Swami]

There is like 2.5 years of Isaac and Fultz saying they feel good enough to play but still being restricted by the team.

[RookieStar]

Well.. seems injured Magic players all want to play "right now" but our FO doesn't want them to... who know who is right

[KillMonger]

Well.. seems injured Magic players all want to play "right now" but our FO doesn't want them to... who know who is right

Wonder why

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[JojoSlimbiid]

My guess is there have been a lot of set backs and incompetence that we haven't heard about over the years and as a result you are seeing extreme conservatism when it comes to injury. Two players are saying they are ready to play but..uh oh spagettio? They aren't even practicing.

[thelead]

Players say they're ready but we don't play them for MONTHS and sometimes YEARS after they should and some still don't get what's going on. Do you all really expect Weltman to just come out and say that he's tanking so that he can get fined and fired?

[tooler]

My guess is there have been a lot of set backs and incompetence that we haven't heard about over the years and as a result you are seeing extreme conservatism when it comes to injury.

Hmm or related theory, JI and Fultz are chronically injured, so if this is an "evaluation" year then the FO wants to give them every possible chance to be healthy without any nagging injuries to 1. see how they play at full strength and 2. see if they can actually string some games together and not get injured again.

If they put Fultz out there with a toe that isn't quite healed, and it nags him all year, then they're not getting the info they need.

Note this is a theory based on a competent front office. I'm not 100% sure we have that, so your mileage may vary.

[Magic_Kingdom]

This is infuriating. No way a broken toe takes this long to heal. If Welt is tanking a third straight year with a roster that already has more top-10 picks than any team in the league, he should be fired on the spot. He got the #1 pick last year and Paolo looks like a star. Stop trying to lose you cowardly POS!

[thelead]

This is infuriating. No way a broken toe takes this long to heal. If Welt is tanking a third straight year with a roster that already has more top-10 picks than any team in the league, he should be fired on the spot. He got the #1 pick last year and Paolo looks like a star. Stop trying to lose you cowardly POS!

Like his bosses aren't aware of the plan and haven't approved it

[dsg2021]

It's been really obvious that the FO basically doesn't want to clear Isaac, Fultz, or any other injured player. I don't blame them much, it's for their health and for the team's lottery picks.

[Bakomagic]

The way I see it is, there are 3 reasons to hold Fultz,Harris,Isaac out.
1. Caution for the players long term health
2. Tanking for better odds
3. Allowing Paolo,Franz to take the reigns as lead ball handler/playmaker/scorer and team leaders before introducing vets back into the fold.

I’m fine with reasons 1 and 3. I have more issue with 2, but I go back and forth in that because we have multiple 1st and the top 2 look like game changing players.

[thelead]

The way I see it is, there are 3 reasons to hold Fultz,Harris,Isaac out.
1. Caution for the players long term health
2. Tanking for better odds
3. Allowing Paolo,Franz to take the reigns as lead ball handler/playmaker/scorer and team leaders before introducing vets back into the fold.

I’m fine with reasons 1 and 3. I have more issue with 2, but I go back and forth in that because we have multiple 1st and the top 2 look like game changing players.

You know, I keep saying tanking but I do believe that your assessment is correct. It's more than just tanking... but I do think it is a LARGE part of it.

Your 3rd bullet point can't be understated though. It's super important to give Paolo and Franz the reps they need to be the players we hope they will become. Dallas QUICKLY removed DSJ from the equation once they knew they had a star and wanted to make sure the ball was in his hands as much as possible. This is our way of doing it.... and honestly, I prefer our way. Luka is now a star BUT the roster they have around him isn't good enough. By holding onto our players and spending big (hopefully) this next summer, we'll be in a great spot. We just need to hope that Paolo and Franz continue to improve (and the some of the other guys too).

[basketballRob]

So does this mean Fultz will be back this season?

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[Bensational]

There is like 2.5 years of Isaac and Fultz saying they feel good enough to play but still being restricted by the team.

Yeah but their entire careers have been derailed by constant injury. They’re just not durable players, for whatever reason. I’m sure the FO are keeping them out to benefit the tank, but also to give them all the time they can to get physically well. Fultz last injury was from running around his own house, and I’m sure it wasn’t because Weltman or Hammond were chasing him in a game of tag, lol.

[Mc-o]

There is like 2.5 years of Isaac and Fultz saying they feel good enough to play but still being restricted by the team.

Yeah but their entire careers have been derailed by constant injury. They’re just not durable players, for whatever reason. I’m sure the FO are keeping them out to benefit the tank, but also to give them all the time they can to get physically well. Fultz last injury was from running around his own house, and I’m sure it wasn’t because Weltman or Hammond were chasing him in a game of tag, lol.

If they really are tanking that’s a huge mistake imo

[Mc-o]

There is like 2.5 years of Isaac and Fultz saying they feel good enough to play but still being restricted by the team.

Yeah but their entire careers have been derailed by constant injury. They’re just not durable players, for whatever reason. I’m sure the FO are keeping them out to benefit the tank, but also to give them all the time they can to get physically well. Fultz last injury was from running around his own house, and I’m sure it wasn’t because Weltman or Hammond were chasing him in a game of tag, lol.

both players are not good enough to stop a tank lol they are both below average nba players . Maybe they are damaged goods and a mistake from the front office

[anothermagicfan]

I don't think they're necessarily tanking, more like giving Paulo and Franz more free reign to see what happens. Now coincidentally there was just some rumors circulating about ji being healthy and only needing a few weeks to get into game shape. I don't think it would be a surprise for both to come back with minute restrictions. So maybe the plan is to bring them back together off the bench at first at 15-20 minutes and see how it goes until they become starters?

And of course every time there's a timeline set out it takes at least double that. So ji and fultz are both talking about 3-4 weeks so is the Orlando Magic front office going to gift us all a healthy team for Christmas?

[Mc-o]

I don't think they're necessarily tanking, more like giving Paulo and Franz more free reign to see what happens. Now coincidentally there was just some rumors circulating about ji being healthy and only needing a few weeks to get into game shape. I don't think it would be a surprise for both to come back with minute restrictions. So maybe the plan is to bring them back together off the bench at first at 15-20 minutes and see how it goes until they become starters?

And of course every time there's a timeline set out it takes at least double that. So ji and fultz are both talking about 3-4 weeks so is the Orlando Magic front office going to gift us all a healthy team for Christmas?

jo and fultz are both below average nba players not a big difference makers . I think they both just not going to have healthy careers

[fendilim]

The ramp up. As weltman would call it. Lol