Philadelphia 76ers: How Jimmy Butler impacts Markelle Fultz’s development

Markelle Fultz was looked upon as the potential third star on the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Jimmy Butler trade, they now have a third star, so how does this impact Fultz’s development now that the pressure is off?

After a summer of failed star-hunting, it was no secret that the hopes and dreams of the Philadelphia 76ers and its fans to be contenders in the Eastern Conference rested on the development of the 20-year-old Markelle Fultz.

After playing just 14 games as a rookie due to a shoulder injury and …. whatever, the 2017 No. 1 pick spent the summer with shooting guru Drew Hanlen and, after taking a reported 160,000 shots his jumper, which had been so good in college, was supposedly back.

The development of Fultz was basically the 76ers’ top priority this season. Coach Brett Brown even made him a starter even though it broke up, statistically, the best starting lineup in the NBA the previous season.

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Through the first 14 games of what is really his rookie season (we know not officially, but in reality) Fultz’s development has been a mixed bag.

For those who suddenly thought Fultz, after basically a year off, would start shooting three-pointers like J.J. Redick and handling the ball like Chris Paul, they were in for a letdown.

However, he has shown improvement in almost all facets of the game.

In a short period of time from the season opener, Fultz has greatly improved on defense and become a spark off the bench in the second half (when Redick starts). He was a major reason the Sixers won a couple games. He is still reluctant to fire up threes but he now has a solid mid-range jumper and is acceptable shooting foul shots (which he struggled with even in college with).

While all the arrows on Fultz’s game (even three-pointers, he has made a couple) are up, Brown still does not trust him down the stretch.

Even when playing well, Brown will not play him at the end of games. Against Memphis on Nov. 11, Brown chose to go with rookie Landry Shamet opposite Ben Simmons at guard at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime, while Fultz sat on the bench. This was even though Shamet (five points in 43 minutes) was not shooting well and Fultz is a better defensive player.

With the addition of Jimmy Butler, the 76ers feel like they finally have their third star to pair with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

Fultz is now no longer, as Queen and David Bowie put it many years ago, Under Pressure. The Sixers season no longer is based on how Fultz develops. His every shot, defensive play and pass will no longer be analyzed under a microscope because, frankly, it does not matter as much. The Butler has arrived.

Now, that is not to say a blossoming Fultz could not be a great help to the Sixers as they attempt their stated goal of winning the Eastern Conference.

The 6-foot-4 guard was after all, a No. 1 overall pick and one would hope that he will make a contribution to the team, be it as backup point guard, starter or Swiss-army knife type who could can play multiple positions, maybe even small forward (the kid has a 6-foot-11 wingspan!).

But the whole world will not be watching as Fultz works on his game. If he has a bad shooting night, it will now not be taken as the end of the world by Sixers fans plus, if he plays well, it will not result in dancing in the streets.

Fultz has shown he is a hard worker (so hopefully Butler will not be in his grill) and has improved just in the first few weeks of the season. One can extrapolate that to mean Fultz will be get better and better as the games pile up.

A reasonable goal for Fultz this season would be getting named to the Rookies-Sophomores game at All-Star weekend. That would be a positive development and a boost of confidence for him.

With the pressure off, Fultz can develop at his own pace. But also, nothing will be handed him in terms of playing time. Brown admitted he started Fultz at the beginning of the season not because he deserved, it but to help his long-term development.

Hopefully, the arrival of Butler will inspire Fultz to work on his game even more. Maybe Brown will have enough confidence on Fultz, at some point this season, to play him late in a fourth quarter.

That would be a very positive development for Fultz.