The Markelle Fultz lottery appears to be heating up. With the NBA Draft less than a week away multiple teams are rumored to covet the likely No. 1 overall pick at Barclays Center on Thursday.
Problem is, neither of these teams currently own the first pick in the draft. Two reports emerged Friday that pinned the Philadelphia 76ers in “serious” talks to acquire that pick from the Boston Celtics, while the Orlando Magic have apparently been charmed by Fultz enough to consider a swap as well.
Let’s start with the rumors of The Process getting to play with Fultz this fall.
Boston would acquire Sixers No. 3 overall pick in 2017 and package to include future first from Sixers, sources say. https://t.co/AK5LyYXnYX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2017
Adrian Wojnarowski’s Tweet on Friday evening implies that the Sixers are pretty sold on the move, a trade that was also reported to be in the works by Zach Lowe and Marc Stein.
Lowe added that the trade would not include any players, which means multiple picks would be in the mix, including the No. 3 overall pick the Sixers currently have. That would jump them over the Lakers, who may no longer be set on Lonzo Ball and brought in Fultz for a workout on Thursday.
Fultz turned down a workout for Philadelphia earlier in the year, causing speculation that he would only work out for the Celtics before the draft. All that would be for naught if the Sixers can seal the deal, which may happen sooner rather than later.
Deal talks are far enough along that Fultz could be on his way to Philadelphia for a meeting Saturday, sources say. https://t.co/kR8vwZu8i2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2017
Boston may have more than one potential deal to leverage a Sixers offer with, as that’s not the only team reportedly interested in a trade to grab Fultz.
Multiple sources have told me that Magic "is in love" with Fultz. May try to move up to #1, possibly with a Julius Randle + #2 pick offer.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 16, 2017
That’s far less reported, but the note in this tweetstorm that seems significant is that Boston may still take Fultz, only to later flip him elsewhere. All this talk means that it’s very unlikely the team will take Fultz for themselves and try to trade Isaiah Thomas, something that was speculated about when Boston initially won this year’s lottery.
