Where Might Markelle Fultz End Up Next?

September 3, 2024

At this point, you have to think former No. 1 overall draft pick Markelle Fultz will not be back with the Orlando Magic. Fultz is an NBA free agent and remains unsigned, and the Magic brought in guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

So it’s likely the end of Fultz in Orlando. Where could he end up next? That’s a good question. We have heard the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets have an interest, but none likely have the cap space. Fultz was also linked to the Atlanta Hawks by one Hoops Wire source.

All we know for now is he won’t be back with the Magic. Or at least, we think.

So, how about the Thunder? That may be a good fit for Fultz, wrote Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.

“Landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder would be a borderline ideal outcome for him,” Favale wrote. “They have the spacing inside their rotation to open up lanes for his dribble drives, pull-ups and overall playmaking. …. Viewed through the break-in-case-of-emergency lens, Fultz feels like a worthwhile gambit — particularly when the Thunder always seem to find (regular-season) minutes for pretty much everyone.”

Hey, why not? He is still a quality guard and even played some of his best basketball in the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is certainly worth a look-see.

Fultz, 26, is 6-foot-4 and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He appeared in 43 games last season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, shooting 47.2% from the field, but just 22.2% on 3-pointers.

The numbers weren’t great, but again, Fultz can be scrappy and make a difference when given the minutes.