They have dealt with significant injuries to center Joel Embiid and last year’s No. 1 pick, Ben Simmons, over the last three years.
Sounds like Simmons is ready to put the questions about his position and fit with Fultz to bed.
Simmons missed his entire rookie season after breaking a bone in his foot during training camp, but head coach Brett Brown has previously said that he planned to use the former LSU Tiger as a point guard upon his return to the floor. “I think we’ll be a quick-paced team”.
Simmons looks to be the primary ball-handler since the plan is for him to bring the ball up the court in the half court game and he is a better rebounder than Fultz, so he’ll be bringing the ball up in transition more often too. “I have no problem sharing the ball, he doesn’t either”. They traded up in the draft to land Fultz at No. 1, drawn by his ability to play off the ball alongside Simmons.
But Philadelphia is flush with potential, and if Simmons thrives as the team’s de facto point guard and Fultz adjusts to playing off the ball, a squad that won all of 75 games over the past four seasons could make a major leap forward in 2017-18.
“I feel great”, Simmons said Sunday, speaking to the media for the first time since the end of the season.
As for how he’ll work with Fultz, who did play point guard at Washington, Simmons isn’t too anxious about that part of it either.
Markelle Fultz injured his ankle Saturday night in a Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors, prompting some panic among Philadelphia 76ers fans.