The Toronto Raptors made an interesting signing before facing the Utah Jazz. They signed Markelle Fultz to a 10-day contract.
Fultz, the 2017 first overall pick, has had an up-and-down career. He was a highly-hyped prospect coming into the league, but injuries derailed his trajectory. At 27 years old, he now finds himself on the fringes of the NBA.
That does not mean Fultz cannot be effective in the right situation. He is a high-energy defender and a capable playmaker. What prevents him from having a larger role is his offence. He is not an effective three-point shooter. Defences know it, sag off him, and take away his driving lanes.
Does that player archetype sound like any other Toronto Raptors bench point guard?
Fultz duplicates a problem Toronto already has
Jamal Shead and Alijah Martin are both high-energy defenders with question marks on offence. That makes signing Fultz a puzzling move for a team already dealing with this exact issue.
Choosing to sign and play Fultz over Martin is especially confusing. Martin is in his rookie season, but he has not gotten much playing time. He has had opportunities with Raptors 905 and has thrived. In 23 games with Toronto’s G-League affiliate, Alijah Martin has averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting efficiently.
That production showcases Martin’s upside. In limited action with the Raptors, he has already shown flashes of being a pesky defender. If he can bring some of the offence he has produced in the G-League to the NBA, he could grow into an impactful member of the rotation.
Not only would giving Martin more opportunities help his long-term development, but Toronto could have used its final roster spot on a player who addresses real weaknesses, like their 21st-ranked three-point shooting or 24th-ranked rebounding.
Instead of giving Martin a chance, Toronto chose Fultz, a player with a similar archetype but far less long-term upside.
Toronto has chosen development all season. Why stop now?
There is something to be said about adding a veteran contributor before the final stretch of the season. Fultz is in his ninth NBA season, and that experience has value.
However, Toronto had multiple opportunities to add a veteran earlier in the season.
The trade deadline gave them a clear opportunity to bring in a proven role player. Instead, the front office chose patience, prioritizing development and holding onto future assets. It was frustrating to see the team fail to add an impactful veteran, but the decision to focus on developing the young roster was understandable.
Which is why this decision feels so out of place.
If development was the priority then, it should still be the priority now. Martin could potentially help this team over the next few seasons. Fultz is unlikely to be part of that future.
Any NBA reps for Martin would have been valuable. Instead, those opportunities may now go to a short-term solution with no long-term value.