It has been just a few years since we kicked the tires on Markelle Fultz enjoying in Boston, and 7 since he was drafted #1 total. Fultz entered the draft in 2017 following one yr at Washington and was the presumptive decide to go first within the NBA draft.
This was the period of level guards like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Steph Curry, and Derrick Rose successful MVP’s, and Fultz appeared like a cannot miss prospect along with his silky clean jumper and sport. Nicely everyone knows what occurred. Danny Ainge traded all the way down to #3 and snagged Jayson Tatum, whereas Fultz struggled mightily by means of two harm plagued seasons in Philadelphia.
Much more unusual for Fultz was the entire lack of his 3-point abilities. Fultz was speculated to have the three level sport of a James Harden, however one thing occurred and it disappeared (and has but to return). Fultz moved on to Orlando and gained the NBA’s Most Improved Participant award there, however with the Magic persevering with to draft level guards and Markelle persevering with to overlook as many video games as he performs, his tenure with the Magic has come to an in depth.
Fultz who consider it or not simply turned 26 stays one of many high remaining free brokers accessible with coaching camp across the nook. In at the moment’s NBA it is actually exhausting to play non-shooters, particularly in case you are a guard, so Fultz has a restricted ceiling on account of his ongoing 3-point taking pictures woes. If he ever bought again the stoke he had previous to getting into the NBA, his ceiling could be a lot a lot increased.
The Celtics are set on the level guard place with Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, and Payton Pritchard, however the first two are 30 and 34 years outdated respectively, so one other guard for insurance coverage is not a horrible thought. Additionally White and Vacation simply performed late into the playoffs because the Celtics made (and gained) the NBA Finals after which performed within the 2004 Olympic Video games which just lately concluded, so a little bit extra relaxation within the common season could not damage for the pair.
With the lone exception of Xavier Tillman Sr, Boston is loaded with nothing however shooters so Fultz’ non-shooting would not trigger as a lot of a difficulty because it has in Philadelphia and Orlando. The uber athletic Fultz has proven sufficient flashes throughout his 5 seasons in Orlando that it might be intriguing to see what he might do surrounded by shooters.
Fultz must settle for the vet minimal to play in Boston in addition to possible turning down presents of extra enjoying time elsewhere. After all the largest knock on Fultz proper now could be you can’t depend on him staying wholesome. One might argue for a vet minimal participant on the finish of the bench that rewards nonetheless outweigh the dangers, but it surely’s a legitimate concern.
Fultz at #1 total turned out to be a bust. Fultz on an enormous ticket contract turned out to be an overpay. Fultz as your starter turned out to unreliable. However Fultz as a vet minimal affect participant off the bench, which groups with very high heavy contracts just like the Celtics have to fill out rosters? I might perhaps see it.
