1. Markelle Fultz
Fultz’s preseason came with several ups and downs. He hit his first career three against Orlando, but was largely ineffective during the team’s trip to China. Expectations should be tempered heading into the regular season, especially with an opening night game in Boston.
With that said, Fultz was drafted No. 1 due to his innate talent and offensive instincts. That hasn’t gone away. He’s one of the league’s best young passers, using his shifty handles to break down defenders before whipping on-time, on-target passes with ease.
That ability to handle and create for others is something the Sixers lacked last season. The playmaking load was shouldered almost entirely by Simmons and Embiid, which was advantageous for the Celtics in the playoffs.
If Fultz can step in and consistently create offense — both for himself and others — the Sixers become a considerably more dangerous threat to Boston and Toronto. He won’t be a true ‘three-level’ scorer from day one, but that’s a gradual progression. He can still add value without bombing away from deep.
Basketball Reference’s projected per-36 stat lines for the 2018-19 season have Fultz shooting 35.9 percent from three on 1.8 attempts per 36 minutes. That would be a massive win for the Sixers, even with the low volume.