Will Markelle Fultz Start On Opening Day?

Markelle Fultz will need to earn his way into the Boston Celtics’ starting lineup

We are going to have more than enough time to over speculate what the Boston Celtics could do with the number one pick, but smart money overwhelmingly favors the Celtics selecting Markelle Fultz when the draft comes around.

Fultz is being touted as a once in a generation type talent, that should be able to transform any franchise he goes to. Fultz has spoken about how great it would be to play with Isaiah Thomas, and the little guy has returned the sentiment.

There is no doubting that if Fultz is drafted he is automatically the long term plan. That being said, it is a lot harder to tell what kind of a role a 19 year old rookie will be able to play on a team that is fresh off a Conference Finals appearance, with a chance to add yet another max contract free agent.

Fans will clamor to say that Fultz should be a starter. The number one overall pick does not usually have to sit on the bench at all, but that is because number one overall picks usually land on the most talent depleted teams in the league. Instead, Fultz is expected to find himself in not only an incredibly cluttered core of guards, but a thoroughly established core of guards.

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This truly is one of the most unique situations the NBA has ever seen. It would be foolish to say that Fultz has no chance to start, because he appears to have that kind of transcendent talent. That being said, it may be more foolish to expect him to start.

Keep in mind that as good as Fultz can be on offense, that will not get him into the starting lineup. Jaylen Brown has spoken about the work young players need to put in, and I am sure Marcus Smart would vouch for the same thing.

Fultz is not just going to be handed the keys to this franchise. He is going to have to earn every bit of playing time he gets. Brad Stevens has always shown a willingness to play young players, but he will not change anything about his approach because Fultz is the highest pick he has taken.

Unless there are some drastic trades, Fultz needs to be prepared to come off the bench, and he needs to prioritize making sure he is an NBA ready defender that is willing to make the kind of sacrifices that gave the Celtics a pristine reputation when it comes to hustle.

Fultz is undeniably coming in with supreme talent. It is going to be one of the thrills of the season to see how Stevens is able to optimize what could be one of the most talented offensive players of his generation. That being said, raw talent is not enough in this offense.

Fultz is not going to be able to dominate the ball at all times and showcase all his abilities whenever he wants. Stevens always begins by finding a specific role that suits a players skill set, and then he builds from there.

We saw how gradually Brown’s role increased. Stevens is not going to thrust Fultz into any situation to test him. Stevens is going to evaluate how he can use Fultz to make this team as good as possible, and then he is going to see if Fultz can fulfill that role. Once Fultz passes that first test, everything will increase.

I would not expect Fultz to be the opening day starter, but Stevens made it clear how he feels about maintaining starting lineups. Fultz can come into Boston knowing that if he puts in the work and works his way up from the bench, he can become a starter on a contending team in a role that he knows he can succeed in.

Seeing Fultz and Thomas together is probably going to be the most fun thing about this team next season, but coming off the bench will also give him more opportunities with the ball in his hands.

Smart will certainly be the ball handler to start, but one of the first tests that Fultz should be able to blow by is proving to Stevens that he can run the offense, and how comfortable he can prove to be if he is going to joing the starters.

His combination of speed and awareness is going to be one of his most unique traits, and the skill he brings along with it leads to the kind of offensive potential that you may not even be able to predict.

Fultz is being touted as the transcendent talent that the Celtics have been searching for, but being that kind of player in the NBA takes more than raw talent. Everyone can see how gifted Fultz is, but the NBA is a whole other world.

If Fultz is ready to put in the work, and expects to be given absolutely nothing that he has not earned at the NBA level, then the Celtics are going to accelerate the trajectory of his career by years.

If Fultz shows the kind of dedication and commitment that has defined the Stevens era in Boston, then it will only be a matter of time before he takes over as a starter.

The best news is that even if Fultz has a harder time transitioning than many expect, he can still learn a tremendous amount with this team, with plenty of years to figure out how he needs to use his talent in the NBA.

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Fultz could be the most exciting player the Celtics have drafted in perhaps decades, but there is still going to be a process. Fortunately, the man making the decisions, and the person that will judge and determine when Fultz is ready, is the biggest reason for this team’s success. Stevens has more than earned the trust of this franchise, and he may be the best thing that could happen to Fultz.