NBA Trade Rumors: Magic PG Markelle Fultz 'Expendable'?

Orlando Magic point guard Markelle Fultz had a career year in 2022-23. But could he be on the trade block this summer?

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic point guard Markelle Fultz is coming off the best season of his career.

This season, Fultz averaged career-highs with 14 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He also made over 50 percent of his shots for the first time in his career.

However, Fultz shot a below-average 31 percent from beyond the three-point line. Despite the low number, it was still the best mark of Fultz's six-year career.

But that number has raised concerns and eyebrows for critics, including Bleacher Report, which believes the Magic should trade Fultz to the Utah Jazz.

"Markelle Fultz comes with his own shooting issues, but that's exactly why the Magic should view him as expendable," Bleacher Report writes. "Orlando needs its guards to spread the floor and hit spot-ups looks if it is going to run the offense through forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and Fultz's stroke just isn't reliable enough to fit the bill—even if he defends and passes at a high level."

In a potential deal for Fultz, Bleacher Report suggests that point guard Collin Sexton should come to Orlando in return.

"Collin Sexton and his career 38.0 percent mark from deep makes far more sense for the Magic, who could use his scoring (19.0 points per game for his career) and wouldn't be bothered by his lacking assist numbers. In the Magic's inverted system, the guards score on setups from forwards, not the other way around."

While Fultz's three-point numbers could be better, it's hard to see the Magic trading him this offseason. He's proven that he can be a true difference maker when healthy. Orlando was 29-31 in games he played and 5-17 when he didn't.

The former No. 1 overall pick is entering the final year of his contract in 2023-24, but the Magic has the money to extend him and may even choose this offseason to ink a new deal.

Fultz also brings a lot to the team on the defensive end and has been a disruptor in the backcourt for the Magic all season long. On top of that, his leadership abilities are necessary for the team to move forward, so swapping him out for a slightly different player doesn't make much sense.

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