The Decision on Fultz?

[eyriq]

I think the most probable outcome is he's our starter for the next 6 seasons. But honestly starting PG is one of the more insecure positions on our team. We've got Suggs, draft picks, trade assets, and free agency to upgrade the position.

But as I've made clear I really like his game. That three point shot is a huge weakness. His defense looks elite and I think he'll get better there, not out of the question that he makes an All-Defensive team on his current trajectory. That upside alone is worth investment. His playmaking is outstanding. He can score but isn't a scoring threat, more a tempo scorer. This is actually fine given we have Franz and Paolo that need the ball.

We need to see more improvement in his advanced metrics to really gauge if he's turning a corner. I think he is but the jury is still out.

While I hear you, I don't hear teams banging down our door asking if Fultz is available.

Waiting and seeing on the metrics is my best hope for this argument. Otherwise you are correct, I do not necessarily want another high usage guard to pair with two high usage Forwards. The ball does need to be shared after all. Thats actually one of the problems I have with Mr Cole, if the ball isn't in his hands he becomes far less effective and looks great when the shot falls but horrible when it doesn't.

Haha, that is actually a good indicator to look out for. If he's part of the trade target rumor mill for more than his expiring contract then his value has been restored and we are in a great spot.

[basketballRob]

It's funny that some here want to trade the only guard we have with above-average size. Then a lot of the scenarios are for small guards.

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[swarlesbarkley]

Was always on the Fultz train until recently. Can't stand it when he gets a pass and he's wiiiiide open at the 3 and before even thinking about taking a shot, he's driving inside the line before he catches the pass. That sort of thing just won't work on a championship team in 2023. I had high hopes that he'd want to shoot the 3 more as he got used to managing his TOS but it's clear he will only shoot it if he has to.

He's fine for now but I think we can probably get an upgrade in the 2023 draft with 1 of our 2 lottery picks.

[Orlando Dawg]

I don’t think any team in the NBA has interest in Fultz and that this is his last contract.

[Def Swami]

I think he'd be a 6MOY candidate and that's his destiny. Keep him and put him on the bench. As it stands now, the Magic do not have any starting caliber guards on their team.

[JoshuaPotter]

I think he'd be a 6MOY candidate and that's his destiny. Keep him and put him on the bench. As it stands now, the Magic do not have any starting caliber guards on their team.

+1

My attitude changes when we start talking about backups. Fultz, Cole would be perfect for that IMHO.

Suggs is still an enigma. Too early to tell, but the fact he doesn't seem to be stealing time from Cole / Fultz tells a story too.

[basketballRob]

I'd rather see Kevon Harris get minutes over Cole or Gary. I can't stand watching Cole.



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[CalOrl11]

Fultz is a fine starting PG for a team hunting for a play-in/playoff spot. If Orlando want to win a playoff series they'll have to move on from Fultz, whether that's moving him to the bench or trading him

[VFX]

I don’t get this idea that Fultz is going to come off the bench with both Cole (who will need an extension) and Suggs (still under a rookie deal) are going to also need playing time.

Someone needs to be moved and it isn’t Suggs at the moment.

You could talk me into Cole, but he’s a streaky 6th man already.

[basketballRob]

I don’t get this idea that Fultz is going to come off the bench with both Cole (who will need an extension) and Suggs (still under a rookie deal) are going to also need playing time.

Someone needs to be moved and it isn’t Suggs at the moment.

You could talk me into Cole, but he’s a streaky 6th man already.

He's streaky when he has a weak defender on him. That would happen less and less if we ever made the playoffs.



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[jezzerinho]

Fultz doesn't fit us. He's a hard worker with a great attitude, selfless on the court and defends pretty ok.

But his skillset is that of a transition combo guard. Hed be good on a high pace run-and-gun team (but is v expensive for what he brings so is not a v positive contract)

With our front court, we need a halfcourt general with Pick and Roll initiator ability and something to offer offensively when off ball.

Fultz is abominably low on the PnR ballhandler rankings for Points per Possession. He's no good at it. Wagner, Paolo and Wendell are crying out for a savvy guard who can manipulate a defence and find the open guy. Imagine Haliburton.

Off-ball, Fultz is dead air.

Cole actually has league-leading points per possession as the initiator and in his good games you can see how the team clicks when hes on it. But his defence is so poor a lot of his benefit in the halfcourt is negated, plus he just has these clunker games that kill momentum.

Markelle is a great kid in the wrong job, but he's playing because nobody else can do it either.

[eyriq]

Fultz doesn't fit us. He's a hard worker with a great attitude, selfless on the court and defends pretty ok.

But his skillset is that of a transition combo guard. Hed be good on a high pace run-and-gun team (but is v expensive for what he brings so is not a v positive contract)

With our front court, we need a halfcourt general with Pick and Roll initiator ability and something to offer offensively when off ball.

Fultz is abominably low on the PnR ballhandler rankings for Points per Possession. He's no good at it. Wagner, Paolo and Wendell are crying out for a savvy guard who can manipulate a defence and find the open guy. Imagine Haliburton.

Off-ball, Fultz is dead air.

Cole actually has league-leading points per possession as the initiator and in his good games you can see how the team clicks when hes on it. But his defence is so poor a lot of his benefit in the halfcourt is negated, plus he just has these clunker games that kill momentum.

Markelle is a great kid in the wrong job, but he's playing because nobody else can do it either.

Love this. Really interesting analysis that resonates. Nice post.

[p0peye]

Markelle is a great kid in the wrong job, but he's playing because nobody else can do it either.

You summed it up perfectly. We will have to find our starting PG and SG eventually and one or more out of Fultz/Cole/Suggs will have to be let go.

[eyriq]

Transition combo guard and half-court general are great archetypes. I agree that a half-court general sounds like a great fit for this offense. I wonder what keeps Fultz from succeeding in the pick n roll.

[Knightro]

It's pretty obvious that he's our best guard.

I'll continue to say this until I'm blue in the face.

Markelle Fultz being the best guard on the Orlando Magic (which is debatable in and of itself) doesn't mean he's a viable starting point guard in the NBA.

It just means the Magic have a lot of bad guards.

He's not the biggest problem the team has, but he's clearly a problem.

[pepe1991]

Fultz is living evidence Magic learned jack s*** from Payton fiasco and his career will mimic Elf's career once Magic finally wake up.

There simply isn't starting level job at PG in modern era for player who is too scared to take wide open 3s and passes on open looks.
Nobody with straight face can tell me that there is anything in basketball that Fultz does better than some random Monte Morris who is "accident " starter on Wizards due salary limitations and was stop gap starter PG due Jamal Murray injury.
Monte costs $9M, Fultz $16.

And indeed one trip at RAPTOR data shows that advanced stats aren't kind to him. 73rd among 88 PGs. Significantlly worst than bum Killian Hayes.
Similar story is with RPM.

btw wtf you have to be smoking to claim Fultz provides "toughness" ? Guy missed 65% of games of his life, vast majority of them due conditions that couldn't got worst nor better with him not playing. Guy spent 2 years off basketball doing physical therapy for something that he plays through today.
Reason why he missed 20 games this year was because he didn't wear slippers at home.

[Knightro]

It's entirely possible that the Magic don't have a single guard on their roster right now that will be here by the end of Paolo's rookie contract.

There's not a viable starter in the bunch right now.

[Skybox]

It's pretty obvious that he's our best guard.

I'll continue to say this until I'm blue in the face.

Markelle Fultz being the best guard on the Orlando Magic (which is debatable in and of itself) doesn't mean he's a viable starting point guard in the NBA.

It just means the Magic have a lot of bad guards.

He's not the biggest problem the team has, but he's clearly a problem.

Exactly. Best guard on the Magic is like tallest dwarf...I really don't care how long his arms are until he can make a shot outside of 15'. I really like Fultz, but much is based on hope - I'm running out of hope for him and I think he's a pretty good player but he's (maybe)pretty close to his ceiling. Sadly, the Elf comparison is pretty close.

[Skybox]

It's not like we'd be targeting him right now if he was on another team...I doubt he has much value on the market, although I do think he'd be helpful to a team with more shooting.

[Knightro]

It's not like we'd be targeting him right now if he was on another team...I doubt he has much value on the market, although I do think he'd be helpful to a team with more shooting.

He'd be a lot more valuable around the league if he was making about half his salary.

He's got a fantastic 18-20 MPG backup PG skill set. If he was making like 7-8M, he'd have tons of suitors.

At 17M, he pretty much has to start and he just offers so little 3PT and FT volume that he's not a really a viable starter on a team with any sort of real winning aspirations.