Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz’s shot defines his ceiling, not his talent

Markelle Fultz doesn’t need to be a knockdown shooter to benefit the Philadelphia 76ers.

Markelle Fultz went from the consensus No. 1 pick to a borderline enigma in just one season. After watching his shooting mechanics deteriorate due to an odd shoulder injury, the former Washington star is now tasked with regaining the confidence that defined him in college.

We’ve already seen the beginning stages of that this summer. He put in countless hours with Drew Hanlen, reworking his shot to feature a quicker, more fluid release. Now he’s searching for shots in practice and his new form is becoming second nature.

After a long and unnerving first season, Fultz seems to be getting back to where he was at U.W. He isn’t there yet, but everything is trending in the right direction.

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With that said, Fultz’s shot isn’t everything. Brett Brown said something last Tuesday that should resonate with fans.

"“His jump shot’s not going to define him. At some point, it will sure help. But I have aspirations, ambitions for him where I want him to feature on an all-defensive team. I personally want to post him more. I look forward to using him as a screener and giving Markelle the ball and let him roll out of it, that Blake Griffin-sort of half-roll and go to dunk” — ESPN"

At just 20 years old, Fultz is an elite young talent. His physical tools, basketball I.Q. and offensive instincts are beyond that of most seasoned veterans. Even without a reliable jumper, he can find ways to impact the game.

That’s true, and it will remain true long term. Fultz’s jump shot shouldn’t define him.

To cap off the regular season against the Bucks, Fultz casually put together a triple-double when offered extended playing time. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, but plays much bigger than that, using his length and bounce to gravitate toward rebounds and make plays on defense.

He’s also an elite finisher inside, contorting his body and weaving through traffic with impressive finesse. Add in his advanced handles, and he’s still able to pressure the defense without consistently hitting from deep.

Fultz also flashed tremendous passing chops in his 14 regular season games. He’s capable of seeing the floor and finding open teammates at an elite level relative to his age, whipping the ball with either hand and with pinpoint accuracy.

While not in Ben Simmons‘ vein, Fultz has a number of dynamic skills beyond his three-point shot. As he gets more comfortable with the physicality of NBA basketball, his production will continue to increase. He was the No. 1 pick because of his talent, not his three-point percentage.

That, of course, doesn’t mean Fultz is better off without a reliable jumper. His stellar run at Washington was highlighted by his ability to score at all three levels, keeping defenders off balance and spraying shots from all over the court.

If he can get back to that, Fultz has All-Star potential and then some. Even if he doesn’t, just adding a reliable catch-and-shoot jumper makes his fit alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid far more comfortable.

The Sixers will also look to unlock Fultz in the pick-and-roll this season, an area where he excelled at Washington. It’s also an area the Sixers lacked in last season, with Simmons and T.J. McConnell seldom looking for pull-up jumpers.

If Fultz can hit short-to-mid range jumpers after dragging his defender through a screen, the Sixers can add a much-needed dynamic to an offense that stagnated in the playoffs. Simply put, having a jumper certainly helps.

Fultz won’t reach his ceiling without a jumper. He won’t become the James Harden-lite many draftniks projected without a jumper. That’s why there is, and will continue to be pressure on Fultz to continue smoothing over his mechanics.

But it shouldn’t be the only thing that excites Sixers fans. There’s plenty to like about Fultz without a consistent jumper, both now and in the postseason when the vaunted Celtics come to town.