The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Epic NBA Summer League

By Bret Stuter

Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) shoots during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) shoots during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2017; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers 2017 draft picks (left to right), Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden, and Mathias Lessort pose after their introductory press conference at Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2017; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers 2017 draft picks (left to right), Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden, and Mathias Lessort pose after their introductory press conference at Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookies

The Philadelphia 76ers headed into the 2017 NBA Draft with five picks, and the possibility of bringing in Euroleague Furkan Korkmaz. During the draft, the team even traded back into round one to select Latvian 7-foot-2 center Anzejs Pasecniks.  The team selected four second round players, but traded away both the 39th and 46th picks for unconfirmed compensation.

All three, as stated earlier, are currently reported as draft and stash players.  So that leaves this year’s summer league down to top pick Markelle Fultz, and whether the team can coordinate the arrival of Furkan Korkmaz to play this summer.

PG/SG Markelle Fultz
SG/SF Furkan Korkmaz (questionable)

SG Markelle Fultz

The debut of 6-foot-4 195 pound Markelle Fultz is not of the same ilk as was that of Ben Simmons a year ago.  At that time, nobody knew how the Philadelphia 76ers would play Simmons, and the team’s fanbase was starving for the upside promise of a top selected rookie debut.

Markelle Fultz arrives to a team with far less uncertainty. In fact, it was the prescribed specific need of the Sixers which likely compelled them to trade up for Fultz. He can excel in either a point guard or shooting guard role, and will likely get looks at both roles throughout the summer league.