18. Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
J.J. Redick held down the fort at shooting guard for the Philadelphia 76ers last year, but based on preseason, it appears a healthy Markelle Fultz will get the starting nod, saving Redick’s 3-point punch for the second unit and turning him into a top Sixth Man of the Year candidate in the process.
This is not only a vote of confidence in Fultz’s new and improved jump shot, but a deft bit of strategy to deploy Redick as a sharpshooting microwave scorer off the bench. If Fultz can keep defenses honest and shoot a respectable percentage from deep, it’s the right move for the Sixers both in the short-term and the long-term.
It’s impossible to predict how long this revamped starting lineup lasts, just as it’s difficult to project what Fultz will bring to the table in his first healthy season. Still, even with his 3-point shot needing some work, it appears as though this No. 1 overall pick is poised for at least some kind of breakout season following that much-maligned rookie campaign.