The Sacramento Kings have
announced the signing of free-agent point guard Markelle Fultz,
according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Fultz, the first overall pick in
the 2017 NBA Draft, was not signed during the offseason and now he
joins the Kings to bolster their backcourt depth following the
trades of De’Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter. 

Fultz spent the previous five
seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he averaged 10.8 points, 4.6
assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. His tenure with the Magic was
marred by injuries, including a torn ACL in January 2021, which
sidelined him for an extended period. Despite these setbacks, Fultz
returned to the court and delivered notable performances, such as a
career-high 28 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in March
2023. 

Upon signing with the Kings,
Fultz expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m excited for this new
chapter with the Kings and eager to contribute to the team’s
success.” The Kings anticipate that Fultz’s playmaking abilities
and defensive prowess will enhance their guard rotation as they aim
for a strong finish to the season.

ANALYSIS: The Kings add another
point guard to the roster after losing away De’Aaron Fox in a trade
with the Spurs. They have sought after multiple PG talents to
replace Fox, with Malik Monk taking over the lead guard duties for
now. With Fultz, the Kings get a big, heady guard that sees the
floor and has the ability to facilitate. Fultz also has the uncanny
ability to get downhill and this particular skill set will fit
perfectly with star center Domantas Sabonis on cuts to the
rim.