Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz’s outlook after up-and-down preseason

What can Philadelphia 76ers fans expect from Markelle Fultz after an inconsistent preseason run?

The Philadelphia 76ers went 3-1 in preseason action, taking down Melbourne United and the Orlando Magic before splitting two games with the Dallas Mavericks in China. Now Brett Brown will turn his attention to the regular season opener on Oct. 16.

In four preseason games, we saw the best and worst of Markelle Fultz. At times, Fultz was confidently stepping into mid-range jumpers and looking for his own shot. At others, he was passing up open looks and getting into foul trouble.

The first two games were largely positive for Fultz. He scored double digits in both contests, shredding Melbourne at the rim before burying Orlando with a barrage of jump shots (including his first career three-pointer).

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After 150,000 shots and countless hours in the gym this summer, it appeared as though Fultz was trending upward at a very rapid pace.

The third and fourth games, however, might have tempered expectations a bit. That could end up being a good thing.

In Shanghai and Shenzhen, Fultz attempted just one three-pointer, which he missed. He also struggled from the field, shooting just 5-14 and scoring 10 points between the two games. It looks like his shot, and his confidence, is still a work in progress.

There are going to be games where Fultz appears tentative, especially early on. He’s still figuring out his role in the Sixers’ offense and where his jumper fits into the picture. He doesn’t have a ton of experience against NBA defenses either. It’s a learning process.

In the China games, Fultz also struggled with foul trouble, racking up five fouls in Shanghai before fouling out in Shenzhen. His defense looks promising, but he needs to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers without accumulating fouls.

As Fultz gets more comfortable with the speed of NBA games, those high-foul outings will be less frequent. He’ll also make offensive adjustments, trimming down on the turnovers that plagued him (and the Sixers) in preseason action.

We’re going to see a lot of good from Fultz this season. He’s going to be an key cog in Brett Brown’s offense, adding dynamism that was far too lacking last season. His ability to attack off the dribble and, eventually, create from all three levels is invaluable.

With that good, of course, will come some bad. He won’t be perfect any time soon, and that’s fine. He’s too young and too talented to give up on.

When it comes to his role, Brett Brown said Fultz will remain the starting two-guard. He also noted that J.J. Redick might start second halves, moving Fultz to the bench. That gives us some insight into Brown’s thought process.

As a 20-year-old and former No. 1 pick, Fultz’s development is important to the Sixers’ long-term success. Brown might be aiming to get him reps with the starting five before leaning more heavily on Redick late in games.

If the opening night matchup against Boston is close, Brett Brown will need to make a decision on who to close games with. Redick might be his choice early in the season.

In addition to establishing starters and closers, Brown touted the situational value of starting Redick in second halves. Fultz is at his best with the ball in his hands, so giving him more run with the second unit makes sense.

"“Part of my responsibility [in preseason] is to be able to put these guys in environments with different combinations and try to figure that out as quickly as I’m able. I believe that Markelle is at his best with the ball, and so when you watch how I substitute and determine patterns, when you bring him off the bench in the second half you’re able to get him like four or five more minutes as a point guard. I believe it’s something that we’ll continue to look at. Again, it was done for that reason” — Tim MacMahon, ESPN"

Fultz enters the season with a lot to prove and some valid concerns. His role will reflect that. Expect big minutes early in games before the leash gets tighter down the stretch. As the season goes on and Fultz gets comfortable, his role will evolve.