Philadelphia 76ers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Sixers Aren’t Looking To Deal McConnell

November 26th, 2018 at 5:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Sixers have stopped listening to trade inquiries on backup point guard T.J. McConnell, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

McConnell has become the primary backup to Ben Simmons in the absence of Markelle Fultz, who hasn’t played the last three games. Fultz will see two specialists in New York this week to examine his ailing right shoulder.

With all the uncertainty surrounding Fultz, the organization knows they’ll need to rely more heavily on McConnell, Wojnarowski continues. A report earlier this month suggested that McConnell was one of the Sixers most likely to be traded but that was before McConnell rejoined the rotation.

McConnell’s $1.6MM contract for this season doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10th but that looks like a formality now. His stats have been modest over the last three games — 3.0 PPG and 1.7 APG in 15.7 MPG. He had a 16-point, 7-assist game off the bench against Memphis earlier this month when the Jimmy Butler deal was being finalized.

Despite turning away overtures for McConnell, the Sixers still expect Fultz to return and reclaim a backup role, Wojnarowski adds.

No Update On Fultz Expected Until Later In Week

November 26th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers won’t be providing an update on Markelle Fultz today, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Keith Pompey of Philly.com (Twitter links). As Woj and Pompey explain, Fultz is now scheduled to see multiple specialists this week in New York, so there likely won’t be any decisions made on his next steps until the latter part of the week.

Cavs Have Inquired On Markelle Fultz

November 26th, 2018 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have been in touch with the Sixers to inquire about the availability of former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, league sources tell Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net.

While the Sixers have said publicly that they remain committed to Fultz, and agent Raymond Brothers has dismissed reports suggesting that his client would prefer to be traded, there continue to be whispers that Philadelphia may be ready to move on from the 20-year-old and has contemplated the idea of a deal — Keith Pompey of Philly.com reported as much over the weekend.

At the moment, the Sixers are waiting for Fultz to visit a specialist in New York, who will assess the health of his shoulder and wrist. The second-year guard was removed from Philadelphia’s starting lineup following the team’s acquisition of Jimmy Butler and then was pulled from the rotation altogether after Brothers advised him to see a specialist. His ability to return to action may hinge on the results of that evaluation.

As for the Cavaliers, they used their 2018 lottery pick on Collin Sexton, envisioning him as their point guard of the future. Still, as they prepare to enter a rebuilding phase, it makes sense for them to check in on a player like Fultz, who was considered an elite prospect less than a year and a half ago. Despite his positional overlap with Sexton, Fultz might be a worthwhile gamble if Cleveland could get him at a discount.

It’s also worth noting that Philadelphia was linked to Kyle Korver in the offseason and his salary would match Fultz’s in a potential deal. However, I’d be surprised if the 76ers were willing to trade in their former No. 1 pick for a fairly one-dimensional 37-year-old sharpshooter.

Brown Wants Butler to be More Aggressive

November 25th, 2018 at 6:57pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

While Sixers head coach Brett Brown has enjoyed Jimmy Butler‘s approach to integrating himself with the team, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reveals that there are times in which Brown wants Butler to be more aggressive offensively.

Latest On Markelle Fultz

November 24th, 2018 at 7:47pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been an eventful week and a half for Markelle Fultz, who was removed from the starting lineup following the Sixers‘ acquisition of Jimmy Butler, then was advised by his agent a few days later to visit a shoulder specialist before returning to the court. There are also reportedly concerns about Fultz’s wrist, with one report suggesting the former No. 1 pick may prefer a change of scenery, a claim which agent Raymond Brothers denied.

In an in-depth piece for Philly.com, Keith Pompey checks in on where things stand for Fultz and the Sixers, providing an extensive timeline of the young guard’s 17 months with the franchise and sharing some interesting tidbits on his potential next steps.

While Pompey’s full article is worth checking out, here are some of the highlights:

Some sources have told Pompey that Fultz is no longer in the Sixers’ long-term plans, despite the fact that management has insisted otherwise publicly.
Pompey also cites multiple sources who say that Philadelphia has considered the possibility of trading Fultz. It’s not clear what sort of assets the 76ers would be looking for in return if they get serious about going down that path.
Fultz did suffer from scapular muscle imbalance last season, but multiple sources have insisted that his shooting woes were more mental than physical, according to Pompey. As Pompey details, the Sixers went along with the idea that a shoulder injury was causing Fultz’s shooting issues, even though several prominent doctors couldn’t find anything that would prevent him from making shots. This season, the 76ers believed Fultz was fully healthy, and it appeared they were caught off guard by the news that he’d be visiting a specialist next week.
According to Pompey, some sources say that Fultz is getting bad advice — those sources even suggest that the anxiety resulting from that bad advice has contributed to his shooting issues. “Some observers said there is no hitch in his shot when Fultz is in a good place mentally,” Pompey writes.

Possible Destinations For Markelle Fultz

November 24th, 2018 at 11:00am CST by marksuleymanov

While there exists a general belief that Pelicans’ All-Star Anthony Davis will end up with the Lakers down the road, the situation is a fluid one, Chris Sheridan of Get More Sports writes. Davis has reportedly expanded his personal list of preferred destinations to include the Knicks, Sixers, Celtics and Pelicans. And there are a number of indications that Boston could be the favorite, Sheridan adds.
As the controversy surrounding Markelle Fultz continues, including a new report he’d prefer to get a fresh start somewhere else, Shane Rhodes of Basketball Insiders looks at possible destinations. The Nets, Suns, Knicks and Heat are all teams that could have interest and a role for Fultz if the Sixers were to entertain offers.

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Atlantic Division

November 23rd, 2018 at 1:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

Since we last examined the Atlantic division, two of the division’s backup point guards have made headlines — one is reportedly unhappy with his role, while another is said to prefer a change of scenery. Both players (or their camps) have publicly denied those reports, but that likely won’t quiet trade speculation.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Atlantic…

Terry Rozier, G
Boston Celtics
$3.05MM cap hit; restricted free agent in 2019

Rozier and the Celtics continue to say the right things publicly, but speculation persists that the fourth-year point guard is unhappy with his role in Boston, as a report suggested earlier this month.

Rozier, who played a huge role in the postseason for the Celtics last spring, has seen his minutes per game dip to 22.7 this season with Kyrie Irving healthy. If Boston were battling for first place in the conference, that decreased role might be easier to swallow, but the Celtics’ early-season struggles have likely only exacerbated any frustrations Rozier has.

Despite their 9-9 start, the Celtics still have title aspirations, so an in-season trade involving a key contributor like Rozier seems unlikely unless they can get immediate help in return. Still, this is a situation worth watching closely. With Rozier’s restricted free agency looming and no guarantee of a long-term investment from the Celtics, the trade deadline could represent Boston’s best chance to get something of value for the young guard.

Markelle Fultz, G
Philadelphia 76ers
$8.34MM cap hit; guaranteed $9.75MM salary in 2019/20; $12.29MM team option for 2020/21

Fultz’s agent Raymond Brothers denied a report suggesting that his client wants to be traded out of Philadelphia, but it wouldn’t exactly be shocking if the former No. 1 overall pick prefers a fresh start elsewhere. His first 17 months with the Sixers have been disastrous, and it’s not clear where he fits into a long-term core that will likely include Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and Joel Embiid.

If you’re the Sixers, you don’t want to sell low on a player like Fultz, who is still just 20 years old and was an extremely highly regarded prospect just a year and a half ago. But the team applied that same thinking to Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, and ended up practically giving those players away for nothing in trades as their stocks dipped even further. If Fultz can get healthy, maybe now is the time to move him, when other teams still believe in his upside.

If Philadelphia does consider dealing Fultz, he’d give the team a mid-level salary-matching chip to shop in trade talks, which could be important. Currently, the only non-core pieces on the roster with cap hits exceeding $2.7MM are Wilson Chandler ($12.8MM), J.J. Redick ($12.25MM), and Mike Muscala ($5MM) — those three are important rotation players that the Sixers would presumably prefer to keep.

It’s also worth noting that clearing Fultz’s $9.75MM guarantee for 2019/20 from their books could put the Sixers in a prime position to go after another top free agent next summer, even after accounting for Butler’s cap hold.

DeMarre Carroll, F
Brooklyn Nets
$15.4MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

During the summer of 2017, when the Raptors needed to cut costs to re-sign Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, the Nets received a pair of draft picks from Toronto and dumped Justin Hamilton‘s unwanted expiring contract as incentive for taking on Carroll. The veteran forward responded with a nice bounce-back season in 2017/18, averaging a career-best 13.5 PPG on .414/.371/.764 shooting.

Carroll’s solid showing last season rebuilt his trade value and even made him a positive asset heading into his contract year, but health problems – which marred his time in Toronto – have slowed him again this season. Limited to eight games so far due to an ankle injury, the 32-year-old has shot just .309/.286/.885.

Unless Carroll can rebound again in a big way, finding a trade partner may be tricky. The Nets would want an asset in return for the veteran, and wouldn’t want to compromise their projected cap space for 2019. That may be too much to ask, but if Carroll plays well leading up to the deadline and there’s a team out there in desperate need of a three-and-D wing, a deal is a possibility.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mannix On Sixers' Options With Markelle Fultz

November 23rd, 2018 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers‘ options with Markelle Fultz are limited, Chris Mannix of SI.com writes in the wake of this week’s news that the former No. 1 overall pick is dealing with shoulder and wrist injuries. After a report suggested Fultz would prefer a change of scenery, agent Raymond Brothers quickly denied that he had ever given any indication to the 76ers that his client wants to be dealt. Even if Philadelphia wanted to make a deal, it would be difficult to extract much value for the young point guard at this point.

Sixers rookie forward Jonah Bolden recently sustained a small cortical crack in the proximal fibula of his right leg during a G League game, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com. Bolden is expected to be sidelined for the time being, and will be re-evaluated next Thursday.

The Sixers‘ options with Markelle Fultz are limited, Chris Mannix of SI.com writes in the wake of this week’s news that the former No. 1 overall pick is dealing with shoulder and wrist injuries. After a report suggested Fultz would prefer a change of scenery, agent Raymond Brothers quickly denied that he had ever given any indication to the 76ers that his client wants to be dealt. Even if Philadelphia wanted to make a deal, it would be difficult to extract much value for the young point guard at this point.

According to Mannix, one rival executive suggested to him that the Sixers ought to make a call to the Suns – who badly need a point guard – to discuss a swap centered around Fultz and Trevor Ariza. Ariza would be a good fit for a Sixers team that could use another three-and-D wing, but he’s a 33-year-old veteran on a one-year deal — he wouldn’t exactly be a substantial return for a player who was drafted first overall just 17 months ago.

In Mannix’s view, the best path for the Sixers and Fultz, once he’s healthy, might be a G League assignment. A stint with the Delaware Blue Coats would give the 20-year-old an opportunity to run an offense and regain his confidence in a low-pressure environment. It would be a risk – if Fultz struggles in the G League, his value would decline even further – but Mannix contends that it makes more sense than having the second-year guard sit on the bench in Philadelphia.

Pacific Notes: Bridges, Kings, Green, Durant

November 21st, 2018 at 11:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

A draft night trade that sent Mikal Bridges from the Sixers to the Suns gave the rookie a better chance to excel than he would have had in Philadelphia, writes Sarah Todd of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bridges, who was in the starting lineup when the teams met Monday, has been playing roughly 20 minutes per game in Phoenix and averaging 8.0 points per night.

The draft was briefly a dream come true for Bridges, who grew up in Philadelphia and played at Villanova. But after the Sixers selected him with the 10th pick, they accepted an offer from the Suns that gave them 16th pick Zhaire Smith and an unprotected first-rounder in 2021.

“He’s starting to feel good about the situation, he’s playing more, he’s having more success,” said Jack Bridges, Mikal’s father. “At the end of the day, he just wants to win.”

There’s more tonight from the Pacific Division:

The Kings have been able to block out distractions on their way to a 10-8 start, even a weekend report that coach Dave Joerger’s job was in jeopardy because of a dispute with management over playing time for younger players, relays Jason Jones of The Athletic. Although turmoil has defined the organization over the past decade, this new crop of Kings seems to be able to ignore negative influences. “We’re not worried about any of that stuff outside the locker room,” Willie Cauley-Stein said. “We’re just worried about our guys, developing our guys and everybody just leveling up. For us, the business side of this, we can’t control none of that, we don’t care about none of that at the end of the day. We want to get get better, we want to win ball games.”
Draymond Green is reasserting himself as a leader in the Warriors‘ locker room after last week’s altercation with Kevin Durant, says Shams Charania of The Athletic in a Twitter video. Green addressed the team following Sunday’s loss in San Antonio, emphasizing the need to regroup and pointing out areas that need to be worked on. Charania adds that the Warriors remain confident that things will be fine once Stephen Curry returns from his injury.
Durant was fined $25K for a profane comment he made to a fan during Saturday’s Warriors game in Dallas, tweets Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Markelle Fultz Has Bad Wrist, May Prefer Trade

November 21st, 2018 at 6:20pm CST by Arthur Hill

6:20pm: Fultz’s agent is denying that his client is seeking a trade, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I have given no indication to [Sixers GM] Elton Brand or anyone else that Markelle would prefer to be traded,” Brothers said. “My focus is to get Markelle healthy. End of story.”

5:52pm: Sixers guard Markelle Fultz is being treated for a wrist problem as well as his right shoulder issue and would prefer to resume his career with another team, report Jared Weiss, Derek Bodner and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The injury has affected Fultz’s ability to hold onto the ball while shooting. Specialists have been working to increase his strength in the wrist.

The problems with the wrist and shoulder vary in severity from day to day, according to the Athletic writers, which is why his shot is more effective in some games than in others. The dual injuries have prompted changes in Fultz’s shooting motion, but he has continued to struggle from the field (.419) and the foul line (.568) during his second season in the NBA.

As we noted yesterday, Fultz and his agent, Raymond Brothers, made an appointment with a specialist in New York for Monday. Fultz will have his shoulder and wrist examined and will not return to the lineup until after that visit.

Fultz reportedly still experiences pain when lifting the ball above his chest to shoot, although the Sixers say they don’t know of any physical problem that would prevent him from being medically cleared to play.

The writers trace the history of Fultz’s physical difficulties to his lone season at Washington, where he suffered right knee soreness and opted for having the knee scoped instead of meniscus surgery. As he recovered, he worked to change the trajectory on his shot to make it more effective from the NBA 3-point line. However, it was noticeably off in his first workout with the Celtics, which prompted the team to trade its No. 1 pick to Philadelphia.

Fultz has been wearing a specialized undershirt to help stabilize the shoulder area, but any progress is on hold until after he sees the specialist next week.

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