Here's my things with Markelle Fultz...
1. The kid's offensive game is as polished as a pro can be. He has the skill NBA teams clamor for, the ability to control pick and rolls and dictate pace and tempo.
2. 23/6/5 on 47% FG, 41% 3PT. Great numbers coming out.
3. The Washington problem could be an issue, but really, who else on the Washington team is an NBA caliber talent? IT had Quincy Pondexter, CJ Wilcox, Justin Holiday and Terrence Ross in Washington, who did Markelle had to help him?
4. His lack of desire to win could stem from the fact that he's just looking towards the NBA. When your team is that bad, and you know you're leaving for the NBA already, wouldn't you?
He may not be a generational talent, yes, but he has the tools, the skills and the talent to be a multiple time All-Star. Damian Lillard isn't a generational talent, but you'd want to have him on your team, Fultz could be a bigger Lillard with the skills that he has. That's who we are passing on.
The rest of the field have their red flags themselves, why not just take the best one with the minimal weakness?
1. Like Evan Turner with a better jump shot.
2. See 1.
3. One could make the argument that his lack of talented teammates, in part, is what led to his gaudy numbers. In short, he put up good numbers because that team was geared towards having Markelle Fultz shine rather than winning ball games.
4. Nope.
Yes, the other top candidates have some question marks as well. I think, though, that the events of the last couple of days points to the possibility that the "consensus" for this draft hasn't been as strong among NBA front offices as it has been among the guys who write the mock drafts.
