Fultz to Toronto: A Last Dance or Just a Last Call?

Remember Markelle Fultz? The guy drafted ahead of Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell in 2017? Yeah, that Markelle Fultz. He’s signing a 10-day deal with the Toronto Raptors. This isn't just another low-stakes add; it’s a reminder of how quickly the NBA can chew up and spit out talent, even the guys everyone once projected as future Hall of Famers.

It's been a rough go for Fultz since leaving Washington. The shot yips, the thoracic outlet syndrome – a brutal stretch that derailed a career before it even truly started. He played just 33 games for the Sixers before they shipped him to Orlando in 2019. In his last full season, 2022-23, he averaged 14.0 points and 5.7 assists over 60 games for the Magic, showing flashes of that smooth court vision. But the shot? Still an issue. He shot 31% from three that year on just 1.7 attempts per game. And this past season, a knee issue limited him to only 43 appearances, putting up 7.8 points per night.

Thing is, the Raptors aren't exactly swimming in cap space or future assets right now. They dumped Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby at the trade deadline, effectively waving the white flag on this season. Scottie Barnes is the centerpiece, and RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are solid pieces. But beyond that, it’s a roster trying to find its identity. Adding Fultz, even for just ten days, feels like a lottery ticket bought on a whim. What's the worst that can happen? He doesn't pan out, and they're out a few thousand bucks.

But here’s my hot take: this isn't a charity case. Fultz still has something left in the tank, specifically as a passer and a slasher. He’s got size at 6'3" and good defensive instincts when healthy. The Raptors need a secondary ball-handler who can create for others, especially with Quickley often looking to score first. If Fultz can show even 70% of the player he was in Orlando during the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists, he could stick. That year, he even hit a respectable 25.4% from deep, which, for him, felt like Steph Curry.

Look, Fultz isn’t going to magically become a 20-point scorer overnight. The days of him being a franchise cornerstone are long gone. But a team like Toronto, which is clearly rebuilding, can afford to take a flyer on a high-pedigree player who's been through the wringer. This isn't about winning games immediately; it's about finding hidden gems. And Fultz, for all his struggles, has genuine talent. The athleticism is still there, and the feel for the game hasn't vanished.

The real question is whether he can stay on the court. His career high in games played in a single season is 72, back in 2020-21. That’s not exactly an iron man. But if he can manage to play ten consecutive healthy games, show some burst to the rim, and dish out a few crafty assists, the Raptors might just find themselves with a low-cost, high-upside backup point guard.

I’m calling it now: Fultz plays well enough in his 10 days to earn a rest-of-season deal, and by next year, he's a reliable third guard off the bench, averaging 8 points and 4 assists.