Sixers: Markelle Fultz sets expectations for the upcoming season

In case you missed it, the Sixers lineup will look a little different next season after the dust settles from the NBA Draft.

Out of the lineup will be Sergio Rodriguez/ T.J. McConnell and Gerald Henderson. Coming in for the Sixers will be back to back number one picks in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz. While they bring unknowns to the table (and a possible minutes restriction in the early going for Ben Simmons) it shouldn’t be too hard for them to provide an uptick in performance.

Adding in that the Wells Fargo Center could become one of the best home atmospheres in the NBA on the heels of record season ticket sales and management expecting sellouts in each game, an uptick in wins could come.

Last season, the Sixers won 28 games despite not having their best player for two-thirds of the season and not having the number one pick see the court.

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If I were a betting man, when Vegas sets the lines on wins for the season, I’d take the over. While the NBA landscape has changed drastically in the past few days, none of the Sixers’ immediate competition got significantly stronger. While that can change in free agency, 40 wins or so is an attainable target for the team.

The Sixers have 100-1 odds to win the NBA title which is equal to or better than five teams that made the playoffs last season. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that when Fultz was asked about expectations for the upcoming season, he was pretty confident.

During the introductory press conference for the draft picks, Fultz said,

"“I am serious when I say that,” Fultz said at his introductory news conference while sitting under the franchise’s three championship banners at the Sixers’ practice facility. “That is not just me talking because I am a player. I really think that we can be a [playoff team].”"

Fultz if fully embracing the responsibilities that come with being the number one pick and from a character standpoint, that’s good to see. Considering that 41-42 wins got teams into the playoffs last season, if the Sixers roster lives up to expectations, they could easily be a playoff team on the heels of a 45 win season.

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That would mean that the Sixers would have to orchestrate an increase of wins of 17 for the second year running but it’s possible. Remember that this is before the Sixers have lifted a finger in free agency where they could make their already deep rotation deeper for the upcoming season.

It’s an exciting time to be a basketball fan in Philadelphia, now it’s time to sit back and see if the talent can deliver.