2019 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 teams that should trade for Markelle Fultz
It’s unlikely Markelle Fultz is traded ahead of the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, but for the sake of being thorough, here are five potential deals that might make sense.
More than likely, Markelle Fultz will still be with the Philadelphia 76ers beyond the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline. Not only is his trade value at arguably its lowest point, but he has yet to return to the court for the Sixers.
ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported that Fultz has returned to Philly to continue rehabbing his injured shoulder, which is hopefully the next step in returning to action after (finally) being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.
In 19 games this season, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft averaged 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on ugly .419/.286/.568 shooting splits. The eye test confirmed something was wrong, because for all his athleticism, passing ability and defense, Fultz resisted shooting at every turn and it looked like his confidence itself was shot (pun intended).
The Sixers may still hold onto the fading possibility that he’s a piece of their long-term future, because it wasn’t that long ago he was the consensus top prospect in a hyped draft class and the projected third member of Philadelphia’s Big 3 behind Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
However, that idyllic scenario hasn’t materialized, and Jimmy Butler‘s arrival further complicates things, especially from a floor-spacing perspective. The 76ers might be boxed in when it comes to moving Fultz in the future, so if he can’t return healthy soon and prove his physical and/or mental problems are behind him, it might behoove Philly to get something in return for him now, before his value depreciates even further.
Figuring out proper compensation for an injured No. 1 overall pick is challenging, especially since he’s only 20 years old. He holds the distinction of being the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, but at this point, he’s just as tantalizing as he is risky to invest in.
According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the Sixers are “scouring the market” for a wing shooter and a center to hold down some minutes behind Embiid, so if they were to deal Fultz, they’d most likely be looking for players fitting that description, possibly with some sort of draft compensation.
Bearing all this in mind, and recognizing that teams will be highly unlikely to submit offers for an injured player before seeing him return to action and actually play well, here are five potential Markelle Fultz trades.