Getty
Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors takes part in the team huddle.
The Toronto Raptors’ development pipeline has added a former top overall pick.
The Raptors 905 claimed veteran guard Markelle Fultz off the G League waiver wire after the former No. 1 overall pick signed an NBA G League contract, the team announced on Friday.
The move gives Raptors 905 an experienced ball-handler at a time when the affiliate has lost several key contributors to NBA call-ups. It also provides the Raptors with a chance to evaluate a former top prospect who once entered the league as one of the most highly regarded guards in recent draft classes.
Raptors 905 Claim Former No. 1 NBA Draft Pick
GettyMarkelle Fultz gets a new lease on his NBA career as he joins the Toronto Raptors developmental pipeline.
Fultz was selected first overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, ahead of future stars such as Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell.
Coming out of the Washington Huskies men’s basketball program, the 6-foot-4 guard was widely viewed as a dynamic scoring and playmaking prospect capable of running an NBA offense.
During his lone college season in 2016–17, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists, while shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range, which cemented his status as the consensus top prospect entering the draft.
However, his NBA career quickly took an unexpected turn.
Mysterious Shoulder Injury Altered Fultz’s NBA Career
Fultz’s rookie season in Philadelphia was derailed by a mysterious shoulder injury that dramatically altered his shooting mechanics and forced him to miss significant time.
The setback led to his eventual trade to the Orlando Magic in 2019, where he showed flashes of the player many scouts expected him to become.
His best stretch came in the 2020–21 season, when he averaged 14.3 points and 6.1 assists per game before suffering a torn ACL that once again disrupted his momentum.
Across eight NBA seasons with the 76ers, Magic, and Sacramento Kings, Fultz has appeared in 255 regular-season games.
He most recently played for Sacramento during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 21 games while averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists in 8.8 minutes per game.
Although he entered the league as a highly regarded shooter, Fultz has converted 83 of 296 career three-point attempts (28.0 percent) in the NBA.
Fultz Provides Depth After Multiple NBA Call-Ups
Fultz joins Raptors 905 at a time when the team has recently lost several players to NBA opportunities.
Big man Olivier Sarr earned a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while forward David Roddy signed a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets. Rookie big man Julian Reese also received an NBA opportunity, landing a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards.
Those departures significantly thinned Raptors 905’s rotation, creating an opportunity for Fultz to step into a larger role in the backcourt.
Raptors Could Evaluate Fultz for NBA Roster Spot
Fultz’s stint in the G League may also serve as an audition for a possible return to the NBA.
According to Grange, the Raptors are exploring the possibility of adding a veteran guard with NBA experience to fill their open 15th roster spot. Granger added that former Warriors guard Lester Quinones has also been on Toronto’s radar as the team evaluates options.
Toronto currently sits roughly $900,000 below the NBA luxury tax line, meaning the team could sign a player to a rest-of-season deal without immediately becoming a taxpayer.
However, the Raptors may delay filling that final roster spot due to a potential bonus clause involving starting guard Immanuel Quickley, who would receive a $500,000 bonus if Toronto reaches the Eastern Conference Finals.
Waiting until mid-March to add a player would help the organization avoid the possibility of crossing the luxury tax threshold.
Raptors Positioned for Playoff Push
With 20 games remaining, Toronto remains firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Raptors currently hold a 35–27 record, putting them just ahead of the 76ers in the standings while sitting 4.5 games behind the conference’s top three teams.
According to Tankathon metrics, Toronto has the ninth-softest remaining schedule in the league.
For now, the Raptors will closely monitor Fultz’s performance with Raptors 905 as the former No. 1 overall pick attempts to revive his NBA career and potentially earn another opportunity at the highest level.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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