It's time to turn the page on Fultz.

[Skybox]

I have been bullish Fultz for a long time and continue to do so. Not interested in the argument

However, his people cost him a ton of money this off-season. I am sure that the Magic had a nice multi-year contract offer for about the MLE or just above.

With this patella injury, he will probably not get anywhere near that number.

Injury prone players should always take the early money and run.

I see no reason to think there was an offer pending at any time. This is his early season to prove he's progressing and it's not going well. I think, given his issues, he would've signed anything close to his present rate. I also don't see why they'd offer MLE money, because $17m/year was based on an assumption that his shoulder issues would be long gone and his shooting would be flirting with, at least "OK" levels. They aren't close to OK...It's now or never. But no worries, one of the many other suitors will move up in the queue.

Do you think his nice offer was dismissed before or after they drafted his bigger, younger, better defending evil twin?

I thought re-signing Fultz was an all but foregone conclusion? I was told many times that the Magic wouldn’t be able to let him go if the team was winning whilst he was still on it. I was also told he’d be commanding well north of $20M a season.

Told by who? People on RealGM?

The range of takes on Fultz (and everyone) is completely speculative. Just like the idea that if we’re winning more games than in our two tanking seasons, we shouldn’t risk disrupting team chemistry…or the goal is the playoffs. These are all guesses. I’d like to think our FO thinks bigger than preserving mediocrity and not hurting feelings.

So far, they’ve avoided big moves…recognizing what our backcourt needs might be the first bold one

[drsd]

There is always an offer. How good the offer is is the question. I am 99% certain they had informal discussions before the draft. I am sure both sides wanted to feel out where the other side was before making decisions on who to draft. They had the same informal discussions with Cole’s team.

Cole’s team made a good decision to keep it team friendly and Fultz’s team probably wanted a bit too high of number.

Anthony's contract has almost made him untradeable; his worth is more than his pay. I guess if the plan was to force the Magic to trade Fultz, Anthony's 3 year contract nearly ensures that that is the end game.

[bigdogdylan5]

There is always an offer. How good the offer is is the question. I am 99% certain they had informal discussions before the draft. I am sure both sides wanted to feel out where the other side was before making decisions on who to draft. They had the same informal discussions with Cole’s team.

Cole’s team made a good decision to keep it team friendly and Fultz’s team probably wanted a bit too high of number.

Anthony's contract has almost made him untradeable; his worth is more than his pay. I guess if the plan was to force the Magic to trade Fultz, Anthony's 3 year contract nearly ensures that that is the end game.

If his worth is more than his pay he should be very tradeable if we want to trade him. Or are you referring to CBA rules around extensions?

[drsd]

If his worth is more than his pay he should be very tradeable if we want to trade him. Or are you referring to CBA rules around extensions?

No. I am speaking in the abstract. Anthony signed a contract that will likely keep him in Orlando, over other guards. Frankly, if he wants to be here, then great. He is one of the best 6th men in the league. His play is making it easier to trade Fultz.

[neuraldarwinism]

he's a career negative player who entered the league as a scorer who can do secondary playmaking. he can't score in the half court.

how do these tedious threads keep popping up lol. goodbyes should have been made at minimum the day paolo was drafted.

[Bergmaniac]

Paolo's improvement as a passer makes it easier to move on from Fultz.

[yoyojw17]

he's a career negative player who entered the league as a scorer who can do secondary playmaking. he can't score in the half court.

how do these tedious threads keep popping up lol. goodbyes should have been made at minimum the day paolo was drafted.

He can't score in the half court?

He's on of the few players you can just give the ball on our team and say go get me a bucket. I don't know where that narrative is coming from. I get that he doesn't fit what people "want" and that's fine... but we still haven't seen what the team could be with him playing and Paolo and Franz not going in second gear. There is no rush only 9 games into the season. And as long as he's on the team... i'm going to hope that he makes the postive impact.... and if the FO decides that he's not the right one... then i hope we get something worth while and not drop him for whatever as some people might suggest.

If he wasn't the right player to start.... personally i would have loved him in the Anthony role where he is surrounded by players that need to be set up or are always willing to play off of others... making him a high usage player. but... with cole's resigning.... not sure how those cards could play out.

[KillMonger]

Read on Twitter

[swarlesbarkley]

Read on Twitter

This is the frustrating part. Why'd he shoot a handful of 3s like this last year but the default is still the janky shot? He didn't miss any meaningful time after shooting like this so it seems like it didn't have any negative health impacts - why doesn't he just shoot like that all the time?

If he needs a little running start then why don't we run him off screens Curry-style to give him the space and momentum to do it? Defenders also give him plenty of space behind the 3 for him to build some momentum even without a screen.

It's wild.

[pepe1991]

Fultz was drafted to be scoring machine who can also playmake. His orignal ceiling was "more athletic Harden" in days when Harden was full time (scoring ) SG.

In nba he simply can't score efficient enough because he can't shoot 3s and can't draw fouls ( and can't score at high clip ).
His playmaking is okey-ish.

Tbh i was 100% sure he will come out this year guns blazing, playing like crazy for contract. I kind a forgot he is very injury prone player. oh well, time to part ways. I would argue there was never any reason to get him in first place but hey...

[basketballRob]

Read on Twitter

This is the frustrating part. Why'd he shoot a handful of 3s like this last year but the default is still the janky shot? He didn't miss any meaningful time after shooting like this so it seems like it didn't have any negative health impacts - why doesn't he just shoot like that all the time?

If he needs a little running start then why don't we run him off screens Curry-style to give him the space and momentum to do it? Defenders also give him plenty of space behind the 3 for him to build some momentum even without a screen.

It's wild.

I have way more faith in Black's shot because I think he practices shooting it more. I think Fultz practices what he does, dribbling and mid-range shots.

It's possible that Fultz could look great against second units. I'm not sure Mosely has big enough onions to bench him.

I also think Banchero and Wendell should be separated because of similar playing styles, but I'm not sure Mosely would do it.

My guess is our offensive rating with Goga and Black is much higher, even though those two don't score.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[VFX]

Fultz was drafted to be scoring machine who can also playmake. His orignal ceiling was "more athletic Harden" in days when Harden was full time (scoring ) SG.

In nba he simply can't score efficient enough because he can't shoot 3s and can't draw fouls ( and can't score at high clip ).
His playmaking is okey-ish.

Tbh i was 100% sure he will come out this year guns blazing, playing like crazy for contract. I kind a forgot he is very injury prone player. oh well, time to part ways. I would argue there was never any reason to get him in first place but hey...

I was assuming he would be trying as hard as possible to do everything his detractors point out. Being 0% from 3 I guess that isn’t the case. Not only is he completely incapable, but he’s also as injury prone as his record suggests he is. Kind of a bad look when you are fighting for starters money and your backups backup they just drafted outplays you and makes you inconsequential.

Orlando would be stupid to resign him.

[Bergmaniac]

Read on Twitter

This is the frustrating part. Why'd he shoot a handful of 3s like this last year but the default is still the janky shot? He didn't miss any meaningful time after shooting like this so it seems like it didn't have any negative health impacts - why doesn't he just shoot like that all the time?

If he needs a little running start then why don't we run him off screens Curry-style to give him the space and momentum to do it? Defenders also give him plenty of space behind the 3 for him to build some momentum even without a screen.

It's wild.

Fultz must be aware that if he could shoot like this more often he'd get a bigger contract and help his team too. So if he is not doing it there must be some serious physical or mental issue preventing him from doing it.

[pepe1991]

btw isn't it obvious his problem is mental and nothing but mental? Last year he didn't shoot 3s often, now he doesn't shoot them at all.
Matter of fact he attemped 135 out of 276 threes in 2019-20 seasons , right after alleged TOS.

[eyriq]

I'm so ready to move on.

[Residual-Heat]

well, at this point it seems most people here are ready to move on.. next question is what to do next? Do we trade for another starting PG like Brogdon? Do we start Black? Do we try to get a SG? Should we save our assets in case the opportunity for a big move presents itself?

maybe someone can add a poll?

[JoshuaPotter]

It feels strange reading everyone's "yeah it's time" comments when it's been time IMHO.

I wish Fultz the best and a healthy recovery. At this point if he comes back healthy, starts, and completely puts Black back on deep bench I think that sets the wrong tone. Especially considering we aren't losing with Black on the floor per say, and our defense doesn't appear to be any worse.

[AaronB]

I like Fultz and hope he stays on the Magic, but I think that the move to Black is onward and upward. I don't see Black on the deep bench again this season, at least for very long.

The reason is that keeping Black in the lineup turns Paolo into the play-maker with the ball in his hands most of the time.

I don't know if that is a championship formula or not, but it is clearly the direction of the Magic and the whole team is going to roll with it for now.

The efficiency of having the PG (Black) setting picks for the PF/C (Paolo) at the top of the key is pretty good and I don't think teams have figured out a way to defend it yet.

[VFX]

well, at this point it seems most people here are ready to move on.. next question is what to do next? Do we trade for another starting PG like Brogdon? Do we start Black? Do we try to get a SG? Should we save our assets in case the opportunity for a big move presents itself?

maybe someone can add a poll?

I think you move him in some kind of package for a vet that can take Black under his wing while providing some short term success for the rest of the season.

It will also avoid the FO from getting egg of their face for letting Fultz walk beforehand for absolutely zero return. Thats just my opinion.

[swarlesbarkley]

Read on Twitter

This is the frustrating part. Why'd he shoot a handful of 3s like this last year but the default is still the janky shot? He didn't miss any meaningful time after shooting like this so it seems like it didn't have any negative health impacts - why doesn't he just shoot like that all the time?

If he needs a little running start then why don't we run him off screens Curry-style to give him the space and momentum to do it? Defenders also give him plenty of space behind the 3 for him to build some momentum even without a screen.

It's wild.

Fultz must be aware that if he could shoot like this more often he'd get a bigger contract and help his team too. So if he is not doing it there must be some serious physical or mental issue preventing him from doing it.

Agree - that's why this season is time to put up or shut up. Was really hoping to see the former and unfortunately we're still getting the ladder.

If it's a physical block then why is he even out there with the 1st team at this point?
If it's mental... then... sorry Fultz, you had 3+ years to gain your confidence back. See ya.