The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Markelle Fultz last piece to elite team play

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers are a very good NBA team, but they excel and then wane. The reason is spotty production from three-point range. But the return to the lineup from Markelle Fultz will eventually fill the last need for the team

It’s always hard to keep the faith when other players come out of the gates hot, and your player is still on the bench, rehabbing. So it’s no weakness for fans of the Philadelphia 76ers to get a tad nervous about top-pick shooting guard Markelle Fultz. After all, the team traded up from three to one.  The cost? Well, that three pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. PLUS: either a 2018 two through five pick OR a 2019 draft pick from either the Sacramento Kings or the Philadelphia 76ers, whichever is greater.  However, at no time will the Philadelphia 76ers surrender a number one draft pick. At the time, everyone was ecstatic. Now? Some fans are second guessing the cost of moving up.

The 2017 NBA Draft, it seems, had plenty of talent near the top of the draft.  With Ben Simmons at point guard, the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t want to be stuck with an obvious draft pick and no need on the roster ala the 2015 NBA Draft with Jahlil Okafor.  And we know the Los Angeles Lakers, spoilers of the De’Angelo Russell to Philadelphia 76ers in 2015, were positioned once more to play spoiler. Despite the pre-draft hype, there are no guarantees that if the Celtics did not choose Markelle Fultz, that the Lakers would have selected Lonzo Ball.

Celtics aimed at Markelle Fultz all along

But if all things stayed the same, the picks for the NBA Draft could have inverted their order. While much had been said about the Boston Celtics admiration for Jayson Tatum leading up to the draft, I doubt they would have passed on Markelle Fultz.  And the Los Angeles Lakers would likely not have changed their decision to shed back court players and draft point guard Lonzo Ball without the more highly coveted Markelle Fultz on the board.

That would have placed Jayson Tatum or some other wing player in the target of the Philadelphia 76ers. And that would have made the Philadelphia 76ers fans happy. Right?