Sixers guard Markelle Fultz will skip summer league to keep working on the mechanics of his shot that were disrupted during his rookie year, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The team wants Fultz to continue his work with shooting coach Drew Hanlen in Los Angeles.
Fultz was limited to 17 games during his rookie season because of a combination of injuries and shooting problems. He played the first four games before suffering a shoulder injury that stretched into a 68-game absence as he tried to recover the form he had in college. He returned for the final 10 games, then had a limited role in the playoffs.
Hanlen said Fultz is making progress with his shot, and coach Brett Brown believes he will benefit more from the drills than by playing summer league games.
“I think there’s a timeline of that where you are going to start doing some things skill-wise and handle and play,” Brown said. “But I think when you look at what’s most important, what thing needs the most work, it’s that. I don’t really want to pivot out of that if we think it’s going to hurt a very elementary way we are going about reclaiming his shot.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- If the Sixers are able to land an elite free agent, it will probably signal the end of J.J. Redick‘s time in Philadelphia, notes Derek Bodner of The Athletic. To sign LeBron James or Paul George to a maximum contract, the team would have to renounce its $27.6MM cap hold for Redick, along with a $13.2MM hold for Amir Johnson. The Sixers would still have the room mid-level exception to offer Redick, but that would be well below his market value. If they retain their cap space, the Sixers can re-sign Redick for 120% of last year’s salary, which amounts to roughly $27.6MM.
- If Philadelphia strikes out with the top free agents, some of their money could be used to renegotiate and extend T.J. McConnell‘s contract, Bodner adds in the same story. The move would reduce his cap hit in future seasons, just as it did with Robert Covington, but it wouldn’t have the same impact because McConnell’s deal is much smaller.
- Mike O’Connor of The Athletic examines some second-tier free agents who could help the Sixers if they miss out on their top targets. Along with Will Barton, who is now expected to re-sign in Denver, O’Connor names Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley, Rodney Hood, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza and Tyreke Evans.
Sixers need Redick…for several reasons
They need him? Why?
I ain’t no 30 year old plus player like JJ Redick 20+ million dollars to make some threes
Ain’t nobody got time for that.
One year was enough.
PS Redick could not always get separation!
Let some other silly team pay him!
How does a kid who has to have his shot worked on to that degree get picked #1 overall in the draft? SMH.
I don’t know what to deduce from it but Fultz took 126 3 pt shots making 41% in his lone college year. His rookie season he only take one 3pt attempt. How is that? What does that even say? 41% in college is above-average, maybe even elite. How does he fail to make more than 1 attempt in the NBA? Is it because of his shoulder injury perhaps?
In contrast, Embid the center, took 214 attempted 3’s last year. Yeesh.
The Sixers should go after Demarcus Cousins as long as he is healthy or on the road to good health and ready for the 2018-19 season
He would more than anyone else out there.
Embiid/Cousins/Simmons? They better bring in a hell of high % shooting guard or small fwd
Well where are the Sixers going to find such a player?
Would actually like to see Cousin if Sixers strike out on George or Lebron. He could play PF and Center when Embiid is off the court.
Embiid/Cousins rotation would work for me.
Okay… seriously guys… its LBJ or PG13, then Parker or Gordon versus 25M in 1 year deals and swinging for the 2019 class of FAs. They aren’t extending anyone they aren’t eating up cap space in 2019 unnecessarily or they would need to dump a salary yet again, like Bayless if they landed LBJ.
it’s pretty freaking simple. Boogie ain’t getting signed either.
LOL, well I can still hope!
Oh and btw I would have responded to you the other day if this were DISQUS, but the story was over. Yes, I know BB is the GM and Coach of the Sixers and I am not a fan of him doing either job.
Anyway…..
They should have drafted Boogie over E.T. Character issues were a main reason, and people thought he was lazy. With Embiid and Saric theres no reason to sign Boogie. Brand = Boogie too, same age same injury same career stats at the time of the injury. Great talent, but lazy + injury doesnt bode confidence in a full recovery.
I just disagree, I think Cousins is worth the gamble.
3pt% at college is not an indication of 3pt% at the pro level, the line is closer & defence weaker in college, so a guy that shoots say 45-46% at college doesn’t mean ain’t gonna be a good shooter at pro level, no relation, but Fults will work it out & become a star player, even if his shot never becomes much, there is more to hoops than shooting. BTW why is this Orioles fan always commenting on the 76rs & never in a positive way, seems to hate Philly, man is the city of brotherly love, show some buddy.
Drew Hanlon may be the best signing the Sixers make this offseason