It would be an understatement to argue that the Magic are bullish on Markelle Fultz. After all, they didn’t think twice about picking up his $12-million option for the 2019 — 20 season early last week. Never mind that they could have waited until October 31 to do so. In fact, they had incentive to delay their decision on his future until the last possible moment; he had been a bust with the Sixers, who drafted him first overall in 2017, and he had yet to play a single game for them since his arrival via a trade deal in February.
Indeed, the Magic are high on Fultz, with no less than franchise president Jeff Weltman pointing to the exercise of the option as “a no-brainer.” And the optimism doesn’t stop there; yesterday, they uploaded video on Twitter showing the incoming junior going through recent workout routines. Captioned “In case you’re wondering what Markelle’s been up to…,” the post showed him doing drills and, most importantly, taking jumpers with a stroke substantially different from that he displayed in college and en route to being the consensus Number One pick in the National Basketball Association draft.
Before unleashing brickbats on how Fultz’s newly unveiled form leaves much to be desired: It bears noting that he has been diagnosed to suffer from thoracic outlet syndrome, hence the need to change the way he tries to put the ball through the hoop. And if there’s anything the video the Magic put up on social media shows, it’s his level of comfort in shooting — certainly contrasting with the myriad others on the Net immortalizing his evident insecurity even at the free-throw line. To be sure, the clip, replete with attendant hype music and slow-motion effects, is just 48 seconds long.
Significantly, Weltman did say the Magic will go slow on Fultz. “We’re not going to put expectations or timelines on his development. He hasn’t played basketball in a year. He’s played 33 games total in his career. So it’s going to unfold the way it unfolds.” In other words, they’re prepared for the worst while expecting the best. That said, the seemingly conservative stance on his progress is contradicted by the message the posting of the video sends. For all its supposed intentions, it places undue pressure on its subject to perform.
Perhaps the Magic are also trying to convince themselves they made the right decision. If so, they need to wait until Fultz takes to the court and proves them right. Or wrong, as conventional wisdom projects. For now, they deserve the benefit of the doubt, even if they’re wasted some goodwill by getting ahead of themselves.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
