Daily Digest

Markelle Fultz Traded To Orlando Magic

The Markelle Fultz era has come to an end in Philadelphia. The Sixers decided to give up on the process, move on, and chase a title now. After a fantastic season at the University of Washington, Philly was so enamored with the prospect that they traded their 2017 pick and a 2018 Los Angeles Lakers pick to move up two spots to no. 1 and ensure that they grabbed him.

But when the NBA season began something was off. Yes, Philly sat out their share of rookies during “The Process.” Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid missed all of their first seasons in the league. But Fultz felt different, something was off. It wasn’t just that his health left him but that his skill did too. After missing his rookie season, playing in 19 games last season, and then just 14 this year, he was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome once he found a specialist who’d diagnose it.

There were times he gave Sixers fans hope like this.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

But cheering a no. 1 overall pick for making a simple shot isn’t a great sign.

There were times he terrified fans, seemingly forgetting how to function. I’ve never seen any other player pump fake on a free throw.

Fultz became a blank canvas while he was in Philly. If you believed in him, you found that the TOS was an injury he could overcome, that his positive attitude on the bench was a sign he was still involved and that he’d only make this Sixers team better. If you didn’t, you didn’t. The TOS was an injury that he had to hunt through a handful of doctors in order to get a diagnosis, his attitude on the bench was him just happy to scrape by, and the Sixers had wasted a pick on him.

Maybe Philly wasn’t right for Fultz. The Orlando Magic seem to believe so. Giving up Jonathon Simmons, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick indicate it. In Orlando, he’ll find much less pressure as he tries to become the player the Sixers believed he could be. But in Orlando, he misses a shot at a championship.

Bill Piersa

Recent Posts

Diontae Johnson Excited To Move From Panthers To Ravens, Could Help In Playoff Push

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is reportedly settling in well with the Baltimore Ravens after the…

14 hours ago

What Happened To Aaron Judge? After Yankees Fall Short In World Series, Fans Are Asking Questions

Aaron Judge seemed to flip the script on his disastrous World Series and postseason with…

14 hours ago

As The Yankees Collapse In World Series, Free Agency Battle For Juan Soto Begins

The New York Yankees' 2024 season came to a screeching halt Wednesday night when the…

2 days ago

Dodgers Win World Series In Game 5, Yankees Blow Five-Run Lead In Disastrous Finale

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win…

2 days ago

Brad Pitt Makes Surprise Appearance At Mexican Grand Prix To Shoot His Movie, ‘F1’

https://youtu.be/Y69VZZt9rt4 Brad Pitt made a surprise appearance at the Mexican Grand Prix’s practice round on Oct. 26.…

3 days ago

76er’s Joel Embiid Stays In NBA News Even While Not Playing

Joel Embiid’s name came up twice in NBA news this week as he continues to…

3 days ago