The Magic have been pleasantly surprised by a Markelle Fultz resurgence this season, but there are still lingering questions about Fultz’s future. He still doesn’t space the floor, and his relaxed demeanor sometimes bleeds too egregiously into his on-court performance.
On the whole, I’m a fan of Fultz. But Orlando may look for insurance in the backcourt. Plus the Magic simply need to balance out the roster. They have invested countless resources in building up the frontcourt. R.J. Hampton can help even things out, providing Orlando with a twitchy shot-maker off the bench.
Some are hesitant to label Hampton a pure point guard, but he’s a slippery ball-handler who has lead guard upside. In Orlando, the luxury of playing next to other creators in the Fultz/Evan Fournier vein could help him. Injuries cut an underwhelming season short for Hampton, but he was playing against pros, which is challenging for any 18-year-old. The raw talent is there.