2019 NBA Mock Draft: The dust clears from the NBA trade deadline
9. player. 38. . PG. Vanderbilt. Darius Garland
Last week, the Magic finally made a move to shore up their lack of depth at point guard, a problem that has plagued them since Jameer Nelson helped lead the team to the NBA Finals in his prime. They pulled the trigger and nabbed Markelle Fultz off the scrap heap as the former No. 1 rehabs from thoracic outlet syndrome and the social media venom spewed his way in the aftermath. It is one possibility at the position long term but surely should not make Orlando feel it can move on from the backcourt.
“As for the timetable, we’re going to do it right; we’re not going to do it fast,” Weltman told Bleacher Report about the move. “It’s our job organizationally to put him in a position to succeed. However long that takes, that’s how long it’ll take.”
The Magic want to ease the pressure on Fultz as he prepares to return to the court. Trading for him in a market with low expectations helps and so will a patient, proficient coach in Steve Clifford. So too could another young player to grow alongside Fultz. This was the 76ers’ thinking with Ben Simmons and will factor into how the Magic address this summer as well.
Enter Garland, a playmaker destined for highlight reels and scoring battles in his NBA career. In five games, we saw flashes from Garland that bring to mind great point guard scorers such as Gilbert Arenas and Stephon Marbury. Pairing Garland, a smooth scorer and shooter, with Fultz, a long, versatile defender and finisher, could be a perfect way to build on what Fultz is great at and allow him insulation at the position when he returns.
It would be foolish for Orlando to ignore the opportunity to grab a talent like Garland simply because they took a chance on Fultz.