Following a devastating injury, Markelle Fultz was forced to sit the rest of the last season. Now, the Orlando Magic appears to have no idea when the 2017 first overall pick will return. Magic head coach Steve Clifford told NBA Today that he has no idea when Fultz could possibly return, adding that the organization do not have a timetable as well.
Speaking with SiriusXM Nba Radio hosts Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson, Clifford said, "He's been great. He's working hard. He's made good progress. You know, we don't have a timetable for when he'll be back, but he's really doing a good job."
Going into the 2017 NBA Draft, Fultz was easily considered as one of the most dominant rookie. The Philadelphia 76ers picked him as first overall, and his career has been on a downfall since then. During his rookie season, Fultz showed promise and eventually became a core player alongside rising stars' Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Fultz's season was eventually cut short after a shoulder injury called "scapular muscle imbalance" which affected his shooting ability.
Speculations about Fultz's actual injury started to arise immediately after that. After a lengthy recovery process, he was able to regain his game and managed to post a triple-double record breaking the mark held previously by his fellow rookie Lonzo Ball.
On Feb. 7, during the trade deadline no less, Fultz was dealt to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Jonathon Simmons and two draft picks. Following the trade, Clifford did admit that Fultz will be sitting the rest of the season describing his shoulder injury as "very serious."
Prior to his trade to the Magic, Fultz played just 19 games for the Sixers. During this stint, he posted 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. His field-goal percentage stands at 41.9 percent, while shooting 28.6 percent on three.
As for his future, many analysts believe that Fultz should be able to completely recover from his injury in time for the next season. He is poised to be Magic's starting point guard. He is in great company with Michael Carter-Williams who won the 2013-2014 NBA Rookie of the Year. He will be playing alongside Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, and Evan Fournier.
Many analysts agree that the Magic is not exactly a playoff contended, considering the team's current lineup. Should the Magic able to snag another star, they might be able to stand a chance. Another possibility is if Fultz does stand up to his rookie expectation, he might be able to turn their luck around.
