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The Orlando Magic picked up the fourth-year option on Markelle Fultz’s rookie deal on Monday. This is not a small matter: Fultz’s 2020-21 option is for $12.3 million -- he was the No. 1 pick, after all -- and Orlando is typically a fairly cost-conscious team. Orlando still had a few weeks to decide whether or not to pick up the option. If it was declined, Fultz would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season. Instead, he’ll be under contract with Orlando for the next two seasons and be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021.
So why now? Why pick up that option? Well, the Magic have had close watch on Fultz this summer, and must have seen something at least modestly encouraging. If the shooting issues Fultz has suffered under his entire, brief NBA career are being mitigated, this is almost a found asset for Orlando, who surged under Steve Clifford late last season behind a fierce, long defense. The Fultz we all loved before the 2017 NBA Draft would be a perfect fit with Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, and the crew.
We won’t know much more until preseason rolls around. Shooting drills in practice or scrimmage videos are one thing. We need to see Fultz in action to believe he’s back. Perhaps the Magic have seen that. Let’s hope so.
Moore or Less
Maya Moore, the four-time WNBA champion and perhaps best women’s basketball player of her generation, sat out this season to focus on criminal justice work. She hinted on Monday that she may retire to completely focus on the pursuit of justice for the wronged convicted.
Moore is just 30 years old and at the peak of her basketball powers. That makes her personal sacrifice to pursue this selfless passion all the more praiseworthy. If she does retire from basketball, that’s pretty bad for the Lynx and the WNBA. But it’s great for humanity.
Schedule
Sparks at Sun, Game 1, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Aces at Mystics, Game, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The WNBA draft lottery -- aka the Sabrina Ionescu sweepstakes -- will be held during halftime of Sparks-Sun. The New York Liberty have the top odds to land her.
Links
Michael Pina on how there will never be another Shaun Livingston. Those last two paragraphs have me lamenting the end of this era of Warriors basketball.
I offer five NBA lessons from the FIBA World Cup, starring Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Frank Ntilikina, Donovan Mitchell, and the Kings’ log jam at guard.
Dan Devine offers up winners and losers from the World Cup.
Ricky O’Donnell informs us that France could have four first-rounders in the 2020 NBA Draft, setting up a new golden generation.
New Nets goernor Joe Tsai will hire former TNT executive David Levy as the team’s CEO.
Agents collectively waved a giant middle finger at the NCAA’s fugazy certification rules. Good.
Apparently James Harden didn’t like Chris Paul, an older and more experienced player, trying to mentor him? Weird.
Michael Jordan cashed out part of his stake in the Hornets, but seems like he’s not interested in fully cashing out and will remain in charge.
Kirk Goldsberry on the greatest shooters of the decade.
And finally: several NBA franchisees including MJ and Jeanie Buss are teaming up to start a tequila business. This decision was sparked because the group had to wait for a table because someone’s assistant made the reservation for the wrong week. Billionaires: they’re just like us!
Be excellent to each other.