The Sixers have been about as transparent as Bill Belichick sharing his upcoming game plan. Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo today emerged from the witness protection program, and provided some insight on the player the Sixers traded up for in the 2017 draft-Markelle Fultz.
In August, Fultz allegedly hurt his shoulder, and has not been right since. His shot was described as broken. He played the first four games of the season, and has been shut down ever since. It was described as a scapular imbalance. Now he can’t shoot outside of the paint. He endured a lack of muscle control and coordination of his muscles. He has had to relearn how to shoot.
“We don’t know the cause of the injury,” Colangelo told the press today. “We got an indication from the doctor in Kentucky that it comes from overuse. Maybe what I’ll call irregular motion.”
Was it the chicken or the egg?
“We don’t know if it was working on the shot that led to the soreness, or the soreness that led to working on the shot.,” he continued. “The fact of the matter is that sometime in August the injury occurred and now we are dealing with the consequences of that. Markelle was drafted here because he’s a unique talent and has the ability to play the game at an elite level.”
December 9th, it was reported that the shoulder soreness was gone, and the imbalance was resolved. The MRI showed that there was no structural damage. It’s now February 9th, and while Fultz can create offense for himself and others, makes dazzling moves in the lane, has what Brett Brown describes as a “wiggle”, he still can’t shoot from outside the paint.
There is “always a chance he gets out there soon, and a chance he gets shut down for the season. I can’t answer that question because we don’t know the answer to that.” Colangelo said.
This was the first time anyone form the Sixer organization even hinted that Fultz may not come back this season.
“He’s got to feel right,” Colangelo continued. “When it all comes together he’ll be out there. It’s coming and he’s going to get more and more comfortable. When he gets more comfortable, I’m sure he’ll step out on the perimeter.”
Fultz is a shot creator, something the Sixers have desperately needed this season, as they’ve blown multiple 20-point leads. If Fultz does not come back this season, that will make three of their last four top picks essentially red shirts, as Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid missed their first seasons due to injury. There is no question that Fultz was a special talent coming out of Washington, and was the perfect fit and compliment to what the Sixers have built. There are no guarantees that Fultz will ever be able to shoot again anywhere close to how he did before the injury.
