10:48 pm: Sacramento has officially announced the deal in a press statement.
9:52 pm: Free agent guard Markelle Fultz is signing a new contract with the Kings, agent Raymond Brothers of I AM Sports & Entertainment has informed Shams Charania of ESPN.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (via Twitter) that the deal will keep Fultz in town through the rest of the season. Exact terms have yet to be divulged.
No corresponding roster move will be necessary, since the Kings have a pair of open roster spots after sending out more players than they took back in a series of trade-deadline deals.
After trading away De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin to the Spurs as part of a blockbuster three-team deal last week, Sacramento was left with a deficit of point guards. Adding Fultz will allow the club to begin replenishing its depth at that spot. The Kings’ eventual haul was headlined by two-time All-Star wing Zach LaVine and multiple future picks.
Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets that the Timberwolves were also considering adding Fultz this spring. After he reached unrestricted free agency during the 2024 offseason, the 6’4″ vet had been left wanting throughout the 2024/25 season — until now.
Fultz was selected with the No. 1 overall pick out of Washington in 2017. Boston traded down with Philadelphia, swapping the rights to Fultz for the rights to eventual six-time All-Star champion forward Jayson Tatum, the third pick in that draft out of Duke.
As Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 KTXL observes (Twitter link), the 26-year-old has struggled with a variety of maladies throughout his pro career, including a torn left ACL in 2021 and further problems in the same knee last season.
Fultz has only played more than 43 games twice across a seven-year career. Last season with Orlando, he appeared in just 43 contests, starting 18. Across 21.2 minutes for the playoff-bound Magic, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per night.
At 28-26, Sacramento is currently the eighth seed in a crowded Western Conference. The addition of Fultz should add a play-making presence and some defensive help at the point of attack.
Fultz himself reacted to Charania’s announcement, tweeting “God’s Plan.”
Yup. Not doing well here.
It took Keon’s best game of the year (probably of his career) to put away this obliterated Pels team. Ahahahahahahahahag Im not having fun.
A win is a win but watching this team almost lose control in the 3rd to a team battling for 1.01 makes you really want to rip your hair out. The Kings won tonight because nobody in New Orleans could hit a 3. THATS NOT GONNA WORK FELLAS.
I’m glad we’ve gone back to the status quo of me hating every single night of my life because of this team. Order has been restored.
Its taken too long tor this to happen. He should have been playing already. Considering Kings need. It’s a good place for him to be……..
Yo its like me ……. I was so miffed with Knicks game. I didn’t even watch the OT. Towns D almost gave this gm away. Didn’t even try for most important rebound of the game. And let them tie it up. Hawks scored 5 pts in last 10 sec. On two possessions……. Unreal
I did the same, end of game pissed me off, towns throwing the inbound to the Hawks and not getting rebounds. Had a great offensive game, but his D is woeful.
The Knicks just need a elite defensive PF who could start if needed. I look at the roster and that’s the only thing it needs. Just a good PF so the lineup could really switch when needed.
I know this trade would not have been popular but trade Kolek, Dadiet and Ariel with draft rights to 10 players overseas for a PF
HUGE WIN!!!! Markelle is a phenomenal player on both ends and impacts winning!
Glad to see he’s healthy again, for now anyway. Last I heard he remained unsigned due to some undisclosed ailment(s).
Glad someone gave him a shot…
Yet Lonnie Walker isn’t in the league?
Yes thank you
Fultz and Okafor are finally back !! Praying for them
Now GS should sign Wiseman (Last time he was injured the whole year on their team they won a title) to a standard contract and Jazian Gortman to a two way contract
Patrick McCaw now has five different titles
He’s been unsigned for a minute, they better hope God’s plan wasn’t for Markelle to literally forget how to shoot a ball, like he had Alzheimers an alzheimers kids pack in his hand or something.
Fultz is a good addition. I feel for Kings fans. Their FO should have tried for better return than LaVine, but I can certainly sympathize!
I always thought Fox was extremely overrated