What if Markelle Fultz struggles with his shot again?
Most Philadelphia 76ers fans are expecting drastic improvements from Markelle Fultz. What if that doesn’t happen?
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t land any big names in free agency, meaning Brett Brown will essentially run it back with the same starting five and a revamped second unit. More than anything else, how far the Sixers go next season will be contingent on Markelle Fultz‘s growth.
One of the Sixers’ biggest problems last season was their lack of self-creation in the halfcourt. Outside of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, T.J. McConnell was the only player capable of handling the ball for extended periods of time.
While Simmons thrives as the primary initiator, some of his best moments in the playoffs came off the ball. In an ideal situation, the Sixers can couple him with another reliable ball-handler who operates in the pick-and-roll, scores at all three levels and spaces the floor as needed.
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That’s where Markelle Fultz comes into play. At Washington, he drew comparisons to James Harden for his shifty ball-handling and dynamic step-back jumpers. He thrived in isolation, using his craftiness to create contact and juke defenders.
He was also one of the best playmakers in recent memory, tossing impressive passes through exceedingly tight windows. Lonzo Ball overshadowed him in that regard, but Fultz was an elite pick-and-roll threat who fit the description of what the Sixers need.
Simply put, Fultz was supposed to be the missing piece — someone who covered Simmons’ weaknesses while complimenting his strengths. He was supposed to be the comboguard who lifted the Sixers to the next level of contention.
As it turns out, the Sixers reached that next level without Fultz. That doesn’t mean their problems were solved, though. The Celtics exploited the Sixers’ lack of self-creation in the postseason, running shooters off the three-point line and smothering Simmons with a variety of defensive looks.
That forced Embiid into tunnel vision by necessity, as he was often the Sixers’ only reliable offensive option. It also allowed the Celtics, despite their inferior talent level, to put the Sixers away in five games. The Sixers’ only win came with McConnell, another ball-handler, in the starting rotation.
The Celtics and Raptors are current favorites in the Eastern Conference. If the Sixers want to knock them off that pedestal, Fultz will need to improve. Many would argue that he needs to start. That might end up happening.
Every report regarding Fultz seems to point toward an improved jump shot and greater confidence. Drew Hanlen, who has been tasked with rebuilding Fultz’s mechanics, has been nothing short of emphatic when talking about his high expectations for next season.
If Fultz does develop a reliable jumper, his ceiling is All-Star point guard. He would also move into the starting lineup, solving the Sixers’ most glaring problems and allowing Dario Saric to anchor the bench. He’s also a better defender than Saric, which is notable.
With all of that said, there is no guarantee Fultz is back to 100 percent. We have no historical precedent for the No. 1 pick forgetting how to shoot, which means expectations are hard to set. Fultz is talented, but we don’t really know where his game stands.
So that brings up the obvious question: What if Fultz struggles with his shot again?
It’s important to remember that Fultz was still a functional NBA player at the end of last season. Even without a jumper, his ability to get to the rim and make plays for others provides value. He became the youngest player to ever record a triple-double in the season finale.
If he can’t shoot, though, Fultz’s minutes are inherently limited. He would take the 10-15 minutes that Simmons sits, but playing time beyond that would be hard to come by.
We have proof that Simmons and another non-shooting ball-handler can coexist (hi, T.J.), but it’s far from an ideal arrangement. You would also need to place shooting around them, which would make pairing Fultz with Simmons and Embiid a difficult task.
Both Simmons and Embiid need shooters on the perimeter. If Fultz can’t shoot, he chokes off too much spacing, rendering that trio ineffective when sharing the court for long stretches. He would essentially be forced into the eighth or ninth-man role, even if his talent is indicative of a more important player.
Even if Fultz boasts the same limitations as last season, another year of experience probably makes him the permanent backup point guard. That would make McConnell, in a contract year, less of a factor.
Outside of that, however, it might be a lateral move for Fultz. If he can’t reliably score outside the paint, extended minutes would be out of the equation. That would probably take Sixth Man of the Year (or Most Improved Player) out of the equation as well.