The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers President Bryan Colangelo focus on winning today

By Bret Stuter

(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: A close up view of the #1 draft pick for the Philadelphia 76ers Markelle Fultz’s card during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Reason this team chose Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz may have hit a speed bump on his way to a long and successful NBA career, but once he takes the floor, the how and why of his arrival will be immaterial.  The Philadelphia 76ers chose to trade up for Markelle Fultz because, with a narrowing scope of exactly what type of player the team needs, Markelle Fultz buried the needle on all characteristics.

Even when we tried to debunk the “we need this guy”, we ended up concluding that we need this guy.  In short, despite being the top-rated player in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markelle Fultz is the one player the Philadelphia 76ers needed on this team from his skillsets, not his ranking.

Fultz needed now

And there are reasons the Philadelphia 76ers need him now.  He is a top-pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. His absence from the basketball court delays his NBA impact.  And the team drafted him to fill a void, a void which continues with each game he sit

The short gist of this is that the Philadelphia 76ers simply have no player who can be counted on to manufacture their own shots short of Joel Embiid. That fact is not lost on NBA teams. Some simply cannot do much about it. But teams in the NBA Playoffs will certainly have enough talent to do so.  Still, despite the upgrade he brings to this roster but stepping onto the basketball court, he is young. And young players run a conservative path to the NBA basketball court.