Philadelphia 76ers: What to expect when Markelle Fultz returns

With combo guard Markelle Fultz’s return imminent, what can Philadelphia 76ers fans expect from the top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft?

Yes, there’ve been many, and yes, they’ve been vague, but it appears the Markelle Fultz injury updates may soon be coming to an end.

After spending the better part of the season on the bench in street clothes, the scapular muscle imbalance present in Fultz’s right shoulder seems to have finally balanced out, and the top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft appears primed to finally rejoin the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sure, it could take a few weeks or months, but it’s obvious Fultz will be on the court at some point this season, which is good news because the Sixers desperately need a guy like Fultz plugged into their, at times, stagnant offense.

The issue is Fultz, most likely, will not be the same prospect they drafted less than a year ago. At some point, he will return to that form but Fultz will take on a somewhat different role for the remainder of this season than what many expected before his injury.

When Joel Embiid is on the floor the Sixers’ offense can be predictable, yet effective. Almost every possession results in an Embiid low post touch. Without him, the Sixers move and share the ball effortlessly, but they lack the isolation scorer like they have in their all-star big man.

With Embiid they have a “get him the ball and he will either create his own shot or naturally open up a wide-open perimeter shot for someone else.” The Sixers still lack that secondary option.

They do not have anyone else who they can give the ball to and say “Hey, go score.” Dario Saric attempts to fill that role but, outside of offensive rebounds, does not create any offense for himself. Ben Simmons eventually will fill that role but his lack of a jump shot handicaps his ability to do so now. J.J. Redick and Robert Covington certainly possess the shooting ability necessary but neither produces much in an isolated, one-on-one situation. Both rely more on ball movement and shooting off screens.

So the question becomes, can Fultz take over as the Sixers’ secondary option when he returns to the court?

Realistically, the answer is no. At least not right away.

Fultz will benefit from playing along Redick and Covington, two of the higher volume three-point shooters in the league. They will spread the floor and allow Fultz to dice defenders on his way to the hoop.

Simmons can’t be the answer to the Sixers’ woes because of his inability to shoot. So Fultz can’t be either, right? Well, not exactly. Fultz is a better option for creating his own shot simply because he will take more jumpers than Simmons. This will force defenders to play up on him, opening up lanes to the basket.

Defenses will at least have to go over screens when defending him. They will not be able to sit back like they do when defending Simmons.

Fultz was drafted for his scoring abilities, both inside and out, and once his shoulder heals he should be able to hit enough shots to keep opposing defenses honest. If a shooter works on their shot long enough, it will eventually result in some consistency, just ask Lonzo Ball. That alone should keep fans optimistic about his potential role on the team.

The former Washington Huskies‘ speed and ability to finish through traffic, when paired with a diverse array of different finishing moves, should allow him to score off the bench and provide a nice spark plug to the offense when Embiid and Simmons are off the court.

Fultz will be a guy who, when he’s on the court, can take over the offense.

Brett Brown will likely want him to shoot his shot without hesitation, also while handling point guard responsibilities both alone and alongside current small ball point guard T.J. McConnell.

Anything to boost his confidence.

Coach Brown should try to scheme Fultz into favorable one-on-one situations, and avoid mismatches so he isn’t forced to just shoot a low percentage jump shots. If Fultz can’t get the basket, his effectiveness will be thrown out the window and his confidence will sink.

While Fultz may struggle to return to form on the offensive side of the ball, the rookie combo guard should be able to assimilate back into the defensive rotation with relative ease, as his length and strength make him a capable defender. When you also factor in his impressive basketball IQ and other intangibles, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility to assume Fultz could be a plus defender relatively early in his career.

A major concern for all athletes playing in Philly is the lofty goals the fans set for them. However, Fultz’ absence from the roster, in addition to Simmons’ emergence as a legitimate All-Star candidate has seriously tempered expectations for the rookie in his first campaign with the team. Safely out of the spotlight, Fultz will be able to go through typical rookie struggles without much outside criticism and can continue to build his confidence up as he prepares for a hopefully healthy sophomore campaign.

Next: Is it time for the Philadelphia 76ers trade for a superstar?

While Fultz will have his struggles when he returns to Coach Brown’s rotation, he’ll hopefully also show flashes of excellence. Though it may be a process, Fultz has all the potential in the world and should get better and better once he steps on the court.