ORLANDO, Fla. _ Thursday's trade between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers became official Friday when Markelle Fultz and Jonathon Simmons passed their physical exams.
A Magic team spokesman confirmed Saturday morning that the two players had passed their physicals.
The Magic sent Simmons, along with a first-round 2020 pick and a second-round 2019 pick, to the 76ers for the Fultz before the NBA trade deadline expired on Thursday afternoon.
Fultz, the No. 1 draft pick in the 2017 NBA draft, was in Orlando on Friday morning for his physical. He is expected to join the Magic after they return from their current three-game road trip, which ends Tuesday in New Orleans.
Fultz's acquisition gives the Magic two of the first six players taken in the 2017 draft. The Magic selected forward Jonathan Isaac at No. 6.
While the two did not participate in any pre-draft workouts together, Isaac remembers the kind of player Fultz was in AAU competitions.
"Just a tough guard. Can shoot the ball, handle it, big body, athleticism," Isaac said. "I think it's a great get for us."
Fultz and Magic rookie Mohamed Bamba, the team's No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, were teammates on USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team in 2016 and are close friends.
Fultz has not played since Nov. 19 because of a nerve issue in his right shoulder that was eventually diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and it's possible he may not play the rest of this season.
While the Magic don't know when Fultz will return but certainly would love to see him on the court, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said the team will not rush the process.
Not to be lost in Thursday's acquisition of Fultz are the trades the Magic did not make as they chose to keep pending free agents Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross, both of whom are playing on expiring contracts.
The Magic could potentially lose both players to another team and receive no compensation because of their free agency, but Weltman said he wouldn't view keeping a player as a risk.
"Every team has free agents and every free agent doesn't get traded," he said.
