Former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, who spent much of the 2021/22 season recovering from a torn ACL, only ended up appearing in 18 games for the Magic and found himself playing alongside mostly new teammates, given that the roster has been overhauled since he suffered that ACL tear.
However, as Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel writes, Fultz acquitted himself well in his limited action this season, shooting a career-high 47.4% from the field and averaging a career-best 5.5 APG despite logging only 20.0 minutes per contest.
According to Price, in a recent appearance on FM 96.9 The Game’s Open Mike with Mike Bianchi, Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman described Fultz as “exquisitely talented in creating offense for others” and said the team believes he has a “crazy physical package of size and skills and vision.” It sounds like Orlando has big plans going forward for Fultz, who – for his part – was thrilled to feel fully healthy and comfortable during the final couple months of the season.
“I’m honestly the most excited I’ve ever been just to have a summer where I’m not really focused on rehab or recovery and I can really attack my summer head-on,” Fultz said. “I know I have a few goals I want to hit, but this is the summer I can really focus on my summer and enjoy the process.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- The Wizards will have a lottery pick this June, but they’re unlikely to use the draft to add a starting point guard, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington, who says the team figures to turn to free agency or the trade market to find that player.
- After making the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Hawks were one of the first teams eliminated from this year’s playoffs. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic takes a look at what went wrong in 2021/22 for Atlanta and says that Nate McMillan‘s job security wasn’t a question as of a few days ago — it’s unclear if the way the Hawks’ season ended could change the equation at all, Kirschner writes.
- In his offseason preview for the Hawks, ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) outlines how team ownership’s willingness to pay the luxury tax could impact Danilo Gallinari‘s future and examines the case for extending forward De’Andre Hunter before he reaches restricted free agency in 2023.
We should extend Dre if we can get him under $20M/yr. Gallo should be elsewhere whether theyre willing to pay the luxury tax or not.. I been saying Orl & DC should do a Fultz & Okeke for Rui & KCP deal since before Markelle even came back & I still think it’s a good deal for both teams
I think Hunter gets somewhere around 20-25 around that. Especially after his playoff performance. Gallo, I think is worth keeping if he was cheaper he’s a good impact big man shooter for the bench but not at the figure he’s getting paid. Then lastly that proposed deal, I do like the sound of it. Fultz Beal Kuzma KP could be a good little core and even if Beal opts out (which you can’t control) it’s a step in the right direction getting a talented young point guard. As for the Magic I think getting a vet SG makes sense cause it’s a position they lack in. But their interest in Rui is probably dependant on who they get in the draft. If they end up with Jabari or Paolo then I doubt they care much for Rui, but if they end up with Chet or Ivey then Rui would get.
That trade is a lot better for Washington, although losing KCP would hurt them on the wing, which has been an area of need for a long time. Still, Krispert would be used more in that spot, and Okeke can also slide over and guard at that position
If I’m Atlanta, I’m looking at maybe moving Capela and Gallinari or John Collins. I also think they need to address the wing depth they lost moving Reddish and having lost Snell (and lack of using TLC), with 1 more piece in that area, and either a skilled defensive 4 that can fill the void for Solomon Hill (preferably someone that can also shoot) or getting Jalen Johnson more minutes in certain lineups, which should also be more doable by moving 1 of their bigs…also need to keep Delon Wright, and actually use him throughout the season, instead of what they did with him earlier this season
As for the hawks, I think these playoffs really show their need to get a real sidekick next to Trae. Hunter was great, Bogi is great off the bench, Gallo has regressed with age, Capela won’t ever give you 20 a night, Hueter really isn’t that guy and Collins I don’t think is that guy either.
A little more than a year ago, I suggested DeMare DeRozan should be a target via FA or trade. He would’ve been great look at how well he’s been for the Bulls. I also suggested Ben Simmons, that would’ve resulted in a first round sweep but going forward I still think he could’ve been the Draymond Green to Curry for Trae Young if you know what I mean. Excellent defender, really good playmaker, can drive the lane but can’t hit FTs and has attitude and ego issues.
Heading into this offseason, same thing, they need to find that sidekick, that extra star to help Trae. Maybe Donovan Mitchell he would be the biggest name. Other lower level stars would be Julius Randle, Jerami Grant, Rudy Gobert etc etc
I’ll set the bar lower, Kevin Hueter, Danilo Gallinari and second round pick for Jerami Grant.
Then in FA try bring back Dennis Schroder on a cheap 1 year deal.
16th in the draft, grab a SG, take your pick from Agbaji, Hardy, Branham or Beauchamp. For me it’s Hardy or Branham.
Hawks then can line up
1. Trae. Schroder. Cooper
2. Bogi. Branham/Hardy. Mays
3. Hunter. Johnson
4. Collins. Grant
5. Capela. Okungwu. Deing
Trae with scorers and better defenders around him in Hunter, Bogi, Collins, Grant, Schroder and Capela.
Like to see Knicks make a play for Fultz.