Will the Philadelphia 76ers’ most recent No. 1 pick be in the starting lineup on opening night?
Last summer, everyone was fixated on Markelle Fultz‘s shooting mechanics. Video after video emerged, with pundits from every corner of the internet giving their opinion on the rookie’s struggles.
As we all know, those shooting woes snowballed into one of the oddest campaigns in recent memory. Fultz, the consensus No. 1 pick, missed all but 14 games with a mysterious shoulder injury. He essentially forgot how to shoot.
Now it’s the summer of 2018 and we haven’t seen one video of Fultz’s jumper. He’s been working nonstop with renowned skills coach Drew Hanlen, parting ways with Keith Williams — the former trainer and long-time friend who facilitated changes to his shot.
Hanlen was done a remarkable job keeping Fultz’s jumper hidden, allowing him to build up confidence and consistency without constant nitpicking from outside voices. Fultz recently appeared in five-on-five scrimmages, which could signal a big step in the right direction.
And, while it’s impossible to project Fultz’s success without seeing the jumper in live action, one report indicates that Fultz is making serious progress, to the point where the Philadelphia 76ers might start him on opening night.
On Fultz, I’m hearing the Sixers are encouraged by the recent clips and maybe even how the shot held up during live action. It’s not perfect and there may be some ups and downs but it’s made steady progress. The plan is for big minutes and a starting role from the jump.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) August 28, 2018
Trusting sources from people outside mainstream reporting circles can be risky. But BehindCurve, who currently writes for Liberty Ballers, has already dropped one piece with in-depth information on the oddities behind Fultz’s rookie season.
If the Sixers are genuinely pleased with Fultz’s progress, seeing him in a starting role doesn’t seem too far-fetched. The Sixers’ starting five was notoriously dominant last season, but Fultz is the key to competing with Boston and Toronto moving forward.
The Sixers need another playmaker next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, preferably one who can score at all three levels. Fultz (theoretically) fills that void, giving the Sixers another go-to scorer and an elite pick-and-roll weapon.
If Fultz can shoot 30+ percent from three-point range, he adds another dynamic to the Sixers’ offense. He would allow Simmons to spend more time off the ball, leveraging his size and athleticism as a cutter and post-up threat. He would also generate more dribble penetration, leading to open shots and kickstarting the Sixers’ movement-heavy offense.
Even if he’s only hitting mid-range jumpers, the benefits might justify starting him.
Fultz is an All-Star talent who lost his way last season. The upside is undeniable, and Fultz is still just 20 years old. There’s more than enough time for him to regain confidence in his shooting form and become the player many expected out of Washington.
If Fultz does join the starting five, the only question is who moves to the bench: Dario Saric or J.J. Redick?