While the Sixers are in the running for a playoff berth this year after bottoming out for multiple seasons, the status of No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz continues to cast a dark cloud over a fairly sunny season in Philadelphia. Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo admitted that it’s possible Fultz won’t play again in 2017/18 (Twitter link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).
As Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets, Colangelo’s comments don’t necessarily mean that Fultz is likely to sit out the next two months. Still, the latest update doesn’t exactly sound promising.
“There’s always a chance that he’s going to be out there soon, and there’s a chance that he’s not going to play this year,” Colangelo said, per Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia (Twitter link). “I can’t answer that question because we don’t know the answer to that.”
The rookie point guard has had to completely rebuild the muscle memory in his shooting mechanics during his absence, according to Bodner. Addressing Fultz’s current shooting range, Colangelo said today that it’s “within the paint.” The Sixers president later cut his media session short, walking away without comment after being asked when he would issue the next update on Fultz’s status (Twitter links via Bodner).
Fultz, 19, appeared in just four games this season before being shut down by the 76ers due to a scapular muscle imbalance and soreness in his right shoulder. According to Bodner, the team still isn’t sure whether that injury was caused by Fultz changing his shot, or if he changed his shot as a result of the injury.
What is with all Philly 1ST round draft picks gets injured in there rookie year
Just smacked my forehead. Fire Coleangelo. Fire the medical staff. I’ve been saying it for over a year. The new medical staff ain’t cutting it.
Please please please fire colangelo. The best moves he makes are the moves he doesn’t make. Next move he makes will be to sign Andrew Bynum. And Shawn Bradley reclamation project.
This was such a league appointed GM, complete bs.
Fire Colangelo.
Wonder if we could get 100k on a petition.
Technically he isn’t a bust cuz he’s expected to miss a year when Sixers took him with the first pick of the draft.
And how smart does Danny Ainge look now by trading back to select Tatum instead. This guy is a flatout genius.
Anyone above Brett Brown in the Sixers organization is a bold faced liar including the medical team.
This organization is a joke. Trust the process? Really? You lost me as a fan.
In just ONE transaction, you could argue Colangelo unraveled the entire process.
You serious dude? They’ve built a young, talented team on the rise. If you would quit being a fan over one player being injured, you were probably a part time fan anyway.
Go ahead, move along.
Colangelo built nothing.
One player? Every year #1 pick sits out the season and MGT seems not to be truthful about the injury. This is a .500 team. With all that rebuilding.
Seriously Fire Colangelo
Sixers went from a guy with a completely unorthodox plan to a guy with no clue what he’s doing.
Same guy who took Andrea Bargnani 1/1 instead of LaMarcus Aldridge.
Should have traded the poor kid. He’s going to need to great sports psychologist now
Steve Blass disease?
was injuried before preseason camp began and the Sixers didn’t do their homework. saw points on a sheet and that’s it. Too small and too worn down already after his freshman year. If Embid wouldn’t have been able to play this year drafting Fultz would have set this team back 5 years. it’s set them back 2 years now. this kid is done. Sixers better draft Lonnie Walker and sign James in the off-season to have a shot.
too small? 6-4 pg.
160 lbs. soaking wet head case.
195lbs… based on combine numbers. Think he is on the kaepernick vegan diet or something? if anything he’s out of shape and overweight not under.
complete joke
Someone please enlighten me why Okafor is Not on this roster. Not Jah, Emeka. We had him in the building, looks better than Amir Johnson, who should have been traded. 4 blocks. Johnson has 4 blocks total in the past 9 games.