NBA Daily: Finding a New Home for Markelle Fultz

The Philadelphia 76ers have found themselves in quite the predicament.

On Wednesday, multiple people reported that, after all of the struggles he has endured in his short time in Philadelphia, former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz would prefer a fresh start with a new team. While his agent has since denied that any formal trade request was made, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the 76ers to keep their minds open if and when teams come calling.

But where could Fultz go?

Brooklyn Nets

Funny enough, Markelle Fultz was selected with the last of the Brooklyn Nets picks that were sent to the Boston Celtics back in 2014.

That aside, the Nets could stand to add more young, high-end talent to their roster. And this could be the perfect opportunity for them to do just that.

Fultz was the top player in his draft class coming out of college and for good reason; before his shoulder problems cropped up — phantom or otherwise — and his shot form was completely lost, Fultz was one of the smoothest all-around players of the entire group. In his lone season at Washington, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while he shot 41.3 percent from three.

If the Nets think a change in scenery or staff could help Fultz find that form again, a trade almost seems to make too much sense here.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have needed a starter at the point guard position for quite some time.

Long gone are the days of the Goran Dragic-Eric Bledsoe-Isaiah Thomas trifecta that once called the Phoenix backcourt home. Now, the Suns’ lack of depth at the position has forced Isaiah Canaan and rookie second-round picks De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo into heavy minutes.

For a team that has been trying to dig their way out of the Western Conference basement for years, that just can’t continue.

The Suns have plenty of assets to use in a potential trade. And adding Fultz to a core of 2018 No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton, Devin Booker and others could really jumpstart the rebuild the Suns have found themselves stuck in for the last five-odd years.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks, for whatever reason, seem intent on not playing Frank Ntilikina, who they drafted with the eighth overall pick in 2017. Trey Burke and Emmanuel Mudiay are, at best, stop gaps at the position for David Fizdale and his squad.

So why not a swap with Philadelphia?

Fultz, while he may be a long-term project, could be another great piece to fit alongside a promising Knicks core of Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Allonzo Trier and, upon his return from injury, Kristaps Porzingis. Anything and everything should be considered for a franchise that hasn’t seen the postseason since 2013.

Meanwhile, the 76ers can get a player that can help them win now and further bolster their roster, alongside recent acquisition Jimmy Butler, for the coming battles against the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. While it can be hard to trade a former top pick, a deal here has some great potential to be a win-win.

Miami HEAT

This hasn’t been the start the Miami HEAT were hoping to see.

6-11 and with no major reinforcements on the horizon, Miami may squander Dwyane Wade’s last season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, assuming the worst case scenario, not all is for naught; this season could prove invaluable to the furthered development of Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo. It could also provide them with the opportunity to ship out some veterans to bring back a young talent like Fultz.

Goran Dragic, fresh off his first all-star appearance, will be 33-years-old and could be a free agent come season’s end (Dragic has a player option on his contract for next season). Behind him, the HEAT have 26-year-old Tyler Johnson, a bench option at best.

And that’s it.

Fultz could be a long-term fixture alongside Richardson, Winslow and Adebayo. And, with one of the better coaches in the league in Eric Spoelstra, Miami may be one of the few teams best equipped to develop and rehab Fultz slowly and cautiously, as he needs to be as he looks to find his shot once again.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Like Miami, the Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t had the best start to the 2018 season.

Outside of all the Butler drama, the Timberwolves sit at just 7-11 and have the entire Western Conference, aside from Phoenix, looking down at them. While it may be too early to pull the plug on this season, things aren’t trending in the right direction.

If the Timberwolves find themselves on the track to the return of non-playoff basketball, why wouldn’t they look to fortify their group for the future? Like Miami, their long-term point guard prospects aren’t fantastic; Jeff Teague isn’t a long-term option at the point and, despite some memorable performances already this season, neither is Derrick Rose, who is 30 years old.

If they can pull off a deal on the cheap, Fultz could become the Timberwolves’ third franchise cornerstone to go along with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The 76ers don’t have to trade Markelle Fultz. If they believe that he can recapture his old game and help them reach the ultimate goal that is the Larry O’Brien trophy, they may be better served holding on to him.

But, if his discontent in Philadelphia is real, the 76ers may have no choice. There would certainly be a good amount of teams willing to take a chance on the former top-pick and, if and when they come calling, Philadelphia would be best served to consider all of their options.