Projected No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz will work out for the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, the team announced.
How Fultz’ visit and workout go, according to The Vertical, will largely decide whether a trade agreement between the Celtics and Sixers involving the top pick becomes finalized:
Sources: The plan's for Markelle Fultz's visit to Philadelphia today to clear way toward finalizing a deal with Boston for No. 1 pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 17, 2017
Discussions have centered on Sixers sending 2017 No. 3, 2018 Lakers pick, and possibly 2021 1st — including complicated protections. https://t.co/LwswzXyCzf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 17, 2017
With Philadelphia prepping to send out multiple first-round draft picks, bringing Markelle Fultz in for a workout to potentially remove any doubts that he’s their guy isn’t a poor idea.
A franchise that’s been forced to cope with numerous health complications in recent years, this Sixers’ brass wants to take a clear, hardened look at Fultz and the level of shape he’s in to be sure making a significant deal to acquire him wouldn’t be a costly decision.
The bulk of the discussions between Boston and Philadelphia haven’t included players, according to reports, but one report from Bleacher Report indicated the Chicago Bulls may enter the agreement as a third team. In the proposed deal, Jimmy Butler would head to the Boston Celtics, with Jahlil Okafor being shipped to Chicago.
The NBA Draft commences on Thursday, June 22. The decisions Boston and Chicago make in the next five days will have a consequential, domino-like effect, with players such as Jae Crowder and Dwyane Wade, along with free agents such as Gordon Hayward, George Hill and Paul Millsap likely to be affected by any major deal, league observers caution.
Wade and Hill both have interest in remaining with their respective teams, but if Celtics GM Danny Ainge manages to strike multiple deals to clear cap space and obtain both Jimmy Butler and Gordon Hayward, the chances of Wade and Hill sticking around significantly decrease.
For Markelle Fultz, his well-known wish of being drafted by the Boston Celtics could be coming to a halt. But these Philadelphia 76ers, should they manage to add Fultz to a fearful core that already includes Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, don’t appear to be coming to a halt anytime soon.
Assuming they finalize this trade, they’re only getting started.
