Philadelphia 76ers: Top 3 landing spots for Markelle Fultz

2. Chicago Bulls

Like the Knicks, the Chicago Bulls are going nowhere this season. Currently 4-13 and with a lengthy injury list, it appears extremely likely the franchise will miss the postseason for the second straight year, and the third time in the past four years.

Last season, new arrival Kris Dunn was a pleasant surprise for the Bulls, joining the team as part of the Jimmy Butler trade. As the starting point guard, Dunn excelled defensively and gradually improved over the course of the season after being stuck on the bench during his rookie year with the Minnesota Timberwolves. So while Dunn is only in his third season, he will be turning 25 in March, and has played just one game this season due to injury, after missing another 30 games last season.

Therefore, while the Bulls were encouraged with Dunn’s output, his ceiling is certainly nowhere near that of Fultz. Overall, the 6’4″ Dunn shot at a 42.9 percent clip from the field and 32.1 percent from long range, with his 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game helping compensate for these shortcomings.

In obtaining Fultz, patience is going to be imperative, with the Bulls under no illusion that they are in for anything but the long haul as it pertains to building a contender.

However, with Zach LaVine thus far living up to his sizable contract extension, and second-year forward Lauri Markkanen showing enormous potential in his rookie season, there should be cause for optimism among Bulls fans.

In return, the Sixers would be receiving a duo that would add enormously to their second unit. This past February, forward Bobby Portis erupted during a home game against the Sixers, posting a career-high 38 points, which featured hitting on 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Overall, Portis was incredibly efficient, averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 boards in just 22.5 minutes per game.

In addition to being sidelined for all but four games this season due to an MCL sprain, Portis is facing a battle for minutes with both Markkanen and new arrival Jabari Parker. As a Sixer, the 6’11” Portis would provide a terrific backup at both the 4 and 5 spots, depending on the game situation.

Also arriving is swingman Justin Holiday. A member of the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, Holiday is enjoying the best shooting season of his career, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting at 40 percent clip from long distance on 7.4 attempts per game. Primarily an off-the-ball player, the 29-year-old would be a terrific, stabilizing presence off the bench, with his seven-foot wingspan also providing an excellent asset on the defensive end of the floor.

Furthermore, the contracts of both Portis and Holiday expire at the end of the season, meaning the Sixers would have the remainder of the season to decide whether or not to extend the duo into the future.