12. Jonah Bolden
November Stats: GP 2| MINS 13.0 | FG% 40.0| 3P% 33.3| TRB 3.5| AST 0.5| STL 1.5| PF 2.0| TOV 0.5| PTS 2.5
Bolden had a solid start to November in the NBA and G-League, averaging a double-double for the Blue Coats, before going down with a leg injury. Bolden is proving that he could develop into a solid stretch big with his ability to shoot the 3-point shot as well as rebounding and getting in the passing lanes. There was a real chance for Bolden to surpass Johnson on the depth chart for backup center before his injury due to Johnson’s poor play.
11. Amir Johnson
November Stats: GP 15| MINS 9.7| FG% 48.8| 3P% 60.0| FT% 90.0| TRB 2.7| AST 1.4| STL 0.1| BKL 0.3| PF 2.0| TOV 1.1| PTS 3.8
It’s official, all the NBA mileage that Johnson has accumulated over his career has finally caught up with him. In the past, I wrote how he should only get minutes in certain matchups, but now it’s clear that he may not even be able to handle that. At this point, it may be better for the Sixers to package Johnson up with a second round pick and try to get a serviceable center in return, after his Dec. 15th trade restriction lifts.
10. Markelle Fultz
November Stats: GP 11| MINS 20.9| FG% 44.4| 3P% 0.0| FT% 53.8| TRB 3.7| AST 2.5| STL 0.8| BKL 0.4| PF 2.6| TOV 1.2| PTS 7.1
November wasn’t a kind month to Fultz. The point guard went from being the future of the franchise to having an unknown future and role within a few weeks. Some will point to the Butler trade as the final nail in the coffin for Fultz being the team’s franchise player, but Fultz struggled with his outside shot long before the trade this season. The biggest tell was the fact that he only attempted one 3-point shot for the month.
Now fans know the reason of Fultz’s struggles came in December and it was due to a nerve issue with his should and neck. As Fultz embarks on the road to recovery, it would be interesting, whenever he is healthy, to see what type of role he will have with the franchise moving forward.