After selecting Ben Simmons with the first overall pick last year, the Sixers have jumped two spots to be the first team on the clock again this year. In a surprise trade with Boston, the Sixers swapped the protected rights to a future first round pick (which will either be the Lakers 2018 pick if it falls between 2&5, or the Sacramento 2019 pick) for the No.1 pick in the upcoming draft.
The move was seemingly made to ensure that the team would acquire consensus top prospect Markelle Fultz. Fans and experts alike are buzzing about the potential Fultz-Saric-Simmons-Embiid quartet and have already begun to express their excitement:
Fultz is an incredibly dynamic player that could bring a lot to the table for the young Sixers. He possesses great length (6’4, 6’10 Wingspan), absurd athleticism, excellent court vision, and an innate ability to score at will. The Maryland native was an absolute force at Washington and his dominance is reflected in his stats:
Averaging over 23 points per game last season, Fultz shot 50% from inside the paint, as well as averaging close to 6 assists per game and shooting efficiently from 3-point range during his 35 minutes per game.
Perhaps the craziest and most enticing thing about his proficiency is that he just recently turned 19 in May. Fultz has an incredibly high floor and with the proper coaching should be a perennial all-star at the next level. This trade was a huge win for the front office and fans of the Philly franchise, and the future is very bright for the Sixers. In closing I’d just like to remind all, Trust the Process.
Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
