It’s been an eventful week and a half for Markelle Fultz, who was removed from the starting lineup following the Sixers‘ acquisition of Jimmy Butler, then was advised by his agent a few days later to visit a shoulder specialist before returning to the court. There are also reportedly concerns about Fultz’s wrist, with one report suggesting the former No. 1 pick may prefer a change of scenery, a claim which agent Raymond Brothers denied.
In an in-depth piece for Philly.com, Keith Pompey checks in on where things stand for Fultz and the Sixers, providing an extensive timeline of the young guard’s 17 months with the franchise and sharing some interesting tidbits on his potential next steps.
While Pompey’s full article is worth checking out, here are some of the highlights:
- Some sources have told Pompey that Fultz is no longer in the Sixers’ long-term plans, despite the fact that management has insisted otherwise publicly.
- Pompey also cites multiple sources who say that Philadelphia has considered the possibility of trading Fultz. It’s not clear what sort of assets the 76ers would be looking for in return if they get serious about going down that path.
- Fultz did suffer from scapular muscle imbalance last season, but multiple sources have insisted that his shooting woes were more mental than physical, according to Pompey. As Pompey details, the Sixers went along with the idea that a shoulder injury was causing Fultz’s shooting issues, even though several prominent doctors couldn’t find anything that would prevent him from making shots. This season, the 76ers believed Fultz was fully healthy, and it appeared they were caught off guard by the news that he’d be visiting a specialist next week.
- According to Pompey, some sources say that Fultz is getting bad advice — those sources even suggest that the anxiety resulting from that bad advice has contributed to his shooting issues. “Some observers said there is no hitch in his shot when Fultz is in a good place mentally,” Pompey writes.
What a bunch of horseshat
He’s just not the guy they thought he be. Dealin Danny swindled the Sixers and now Kyle Kover and Courtney Lee have the same market value as him lol. It’s over, time to cut your losses and try to win a chip without him.
The Sixers swindled themselves.
Face it, Philadelphia-based teams aren’t known for making the wisest choices when it comes to personnel. Five years, five successive lottery picks that have been busts, and predictably so; MCW, Noel, Okafor, and now Fultz. I would add Turner to that as well, but I doubt the current regime had anything to do with him.
My question is, who in their scouting department is ranking these guys so ridiculously high, and why haven’t they been fired yet?
None of these picks were spectacular reaches, Fultz was predicted to be the #1 guy. If someone foresaw the issues Fultz has please let me know because that would be incredible.
So all Philadelphia based teams? I love the world we live in with zero hyperbole. Every “hot take” is the most epic of all time opinion.
Clearly Elton Brand is in on the Eagles draft board and Matt Klentak is giving advice to the Flyers.
Sorry to burst your bubble but the process is never leading to a chip, with or without Fultz
As long as you’re telling the future can I get next weeks lottery numbers
I miss the days when you forced yourself into long term plans. Even my daughter doesn’t make men prove themselves. Always gets burned
i dont understand it lol. also, hes due to make 10mil? lol thats crazy
Will remain believing he is too scared to actually play. Played just enough to get his option picked up. Now he can hide behind an injury. Instead of hes a bust bc he sucked its, oh man “what could have been” “so talented but all those injuries” and then for the rest of his life he can just look at his daily planner… Monday count my money, Tuesday count my money…
That’s a pretty awful thing to say.
It becomes truer each day. Look he got 7M for 14 games played with all of his head issues in year 1. This year he’s played 19 games for 8.3M, which was just enough to get his option to get picked up for 2019-20 which is 9.7M. After the taxman he walks away with 15M for playing 11.3 HOURS of basketball. It’s the biggest scam I’ve seen since Andrew Bynum (16M) who ALSO did not want to play, wanted that paycheck. This is not that uncommon.
It is far far far more prevalent in the NFL though. There are guys that are just there to get paid enough so that they can quit. Eric Crouch almost did it, and he just realized he couldn’t do it. You saw this year Vontae Davis, he was there for one last paycheck and didn’t have enough in him to last the season b/c they actually need him to play.
As a Sixer fan, I say who cares! The reasons are irrelevant. He is a hot mess with no heart. Put on your hoodie, suck your thumb and get lost. Take an expiring from someone building with more patience and less expectations. I had enough of this bozo.
Guys, to be fair, he probably thought as a philly pick he was guaranteed his first year off then found out it wasnt a job perk.
I guess the Sixers didn’t do enough background on this kid’s psyche, just looked at the raw skills.
Honestly, it should have been pretty evident in college that something was just not quite adding up with this kid. Bad supporting cast or not, 9-22 in a good but not great conference is not a good look on a number 1 pick. His individual numbers look great, but the next season without him they go 21-13. Yes, new coach, new recruits, blah, blah, blah, but number 1 picks should make their college teams better.
Great, another person that knew the consensus #1 guy was a bust. Why aren’t you working for ESPN?
LordBanana you are so right, now everybody knew Fultz was gonna be a bust, before the draft, all the experts & mock drafts put him as #1, so as far as I am concerned Philly did the right choice, it is up to Fultz to live up to the expectations. Really drives me nuts all the “so called” fans now saying how bad Philly did.
Actually, that’s a good point about how his college team was so bad with the #1 pick. You’d think a #1 pick could single handedly lead his college team to a decent record in a mediocre conference. I still don’t know how he averaged that many points in college, after watching his NBA game. He just looks like a bad player who can’t shoot, isn’t that athletic, or big now.
I still think Fultz fed Zhaire the peanuts.
It was sesame
Fultz and Korkmaz to the Suns for Ariza and Crawford. Gives the 76ers a 3 and D starting wing in Ariza bumps Chandler to the bench. And adds a proven Vet scorer in Crawford. Fultz gives the Suns a starting PG and a second team wing to develop with the young guys.
Simmons
Reddick
Butler
Ariza
Embiid
Fultz
Booker
Bridges
Jackson
Ayton
Win win for both
He does what his nerves tell him to do!
Fultz can take his talent to Miami, Spoelstra will make something out of him
I have to say this whole situation with his shot is in one of the weirder things I’ve ever heard of in sports. I completely get of being off mentally can effect someone’s game, or even cause the “yips” to an extent. But his complete and utter loss of shooting form seems like something on a whole other level and more than just a mental block. But if he’s healthy, then I’ve got no idea what I could be. I hate to say it but he looks like a lost cause, and I doubt it ever gets much better at this point unless a miracle happens.
All he needs to do is go Bowling. That would be icing on the cake for this ‘cupcake’ situation.
send him to the g league or stretch provision
He’ll fake another injury or slam his hand in a car door before he goes to the G-League.
Lol goodone
Yeah, due time for the elbow.
I just imagine Peter Griffin hitting his shin rocking back n forth “ahhhhhhhhhhhh”
This is one of the weirdest storylines in all sports the last year & a half. Feel bad for the kid.
Fultz hasn’t shown much, but he hasn’t really been given the #1 pick treatment either… meaning, the offense revolves around him. He was literally the fourth option on his team.
He did record a triple double when given the chance to shine, so I think he has some value, but needs to placed in a position to flourish. Clearly, Philly is not that place.