Don’t judge too hastily
The fact is, the Philadelphia 76ers had to take a chance. Fultz, by all accounts, was the premier talent on the board in the 2017 NBA Draft. But even more importantly, his point guard and shooting guard versatility made him the perfect player for the 76ers. With the draft approaching, the Philadelphia 76ers made a trade to move up. After the fact, the Celtics claimed that they wanted small forward Jayson Tatum all along. But what else would they say? “We wanted Fultz, but we traded out anyways”?
And while many turn to the trade made with the Boston Celtics and the performance of Jayson Tatum, keep in mind that the same argument happened a year ago when the 76ers watched Brandon Ingram play for the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, many continued to see Simmons as a power forward.
Erratic rookies
That same crowd ignores Tatum’s four point games and sees a young man whose average three-point shot is above 40 percent. That’s incredible for a Celtic forward. But he has the Hayward injury to thank for his opportunity. Fultz will deliver his talents on his debut. He won’t simulate Embiid, Simmons nor Tatum. And when he brings those crazy moves and shooting accuracy, some may even see a touch of Allen Iverson in the young man.
But that same inconsistancy will strike Markelle Fultz as well. When it does, the same folks who hated the trade will point to those downturns as reason why the entire exchange is permanently broken. But it’s not. Struggles in September will turn to anticipation in April. And anticipation will yield to playoff production.