3 veteran point guards the Toronto Raptors should target in 2024 free agency
2. Markelle Fultz
Moving from one disgraced promising point guard to another, let’s shift gears to Markelle Fultz of the Orlando Magic. In his lone season with the Washington Huskies, Fultz proved to be a crafty playmaker and premier athlete, with untapped potential to become a dynamic scorer at the next level. The Huskies had a pretty mediocre collegiate season that year, nevertheless, Fultz earned a First-Team PAC 12 selection and was named to Third-Team All-American. Many draft boards, executives/scouts, and media pundits considered Markelle Fultz as the consensus top prospect in the lead-up to the 2017 NBA Draft.
They were right to think so as Markelle Fultz was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night. The Sixers hoped Fultz would be their star combo guard to pair with a promising young core consisting of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Little did Philadelphia know that Fultz would undergo one of the most unusual basketball injuries in recent history, which would ultimately hamper his shooting mechanics. This untimely turn of events for Fultz would largely factor in him losing a position as a primary figure in the Sixers' long-term plans, and it wouldn’t take long before they dealt Markelle to the Orlando Magic for veteran Jonathon Simmons and draft capital.
Fortunately for Fultz, the move to Orlando marked a career resurgence for the young point guard, who never quite got a fair shot in Philly. As his former Sixers squad would quickly grow to playoff success, they didn’t have time to wait around for Markelle Fultz to return to peak form. On a rebuilding Orlando squad, Fultz earned the starting PG position where he averaged a solid 12 points and five assists in his first season with the Magic. Going into his second year with the Magic in 2020-21, it was expected that Fultz would continue to improve as Orlando’s franchise point guard, but an ill-fated ACL tear in January 2021 killed any momentum that Markelle had.
Fultz would eventually return to form, but by then, new guards would arrive in Orlando including Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black. Markelle soon found himself relegated to a backup role, but he is still capable of being a difference-maker on the court regardless. Fultz’ Orlando run has been pretty solid and if anything, it showed he’s far from an out-of-luck draft bust. Markelle would likely be the backup to Immanuel Quickley, but there are potential lineups where you run Fultz at PG and have IQ stretch the floor as your SG. Another change in scenery could be beneficial for Markelle Fultz, and I’m sure his services would be valued greatly by the Raptors’ front office… albeit for the right price tag.