Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are reportedly interested in Markelle Fultz even though the 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick hasn’t played since Nov. 19 because of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reported the news, noting the Washington product would give the Pistons a young point guard who could help fill the position if Reggie Jackson departs in free agency following the 2019-20 campaign.
Ellis pointed out Detroit would have to move some salary around in an effort to avoid the luxury tax if it was to assume the $8.3 million Fultz is owed because Philadelphia isn’t in the market to add salary.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN shared the statement from Fultz’s agent, Raymond Brothers, saying the guard was diagnosed with the thoracic outlet syndrome that leads to “abnormal functional movement and range of motion,” while Marc Stein of the New York Times noted the 76ers confirmed the diagnosis.
Wojnarowski reported on Dec. 4 the hope was Fultz could return in three to six weeks.
He has not lived up to expectations since being the top pick and played just 14 games as a rookie. He has shot just 15 three-pointers since he entered the league, and concerns that shoulder issues were impacting his shooting form dominated headlines.
According to Wojnarowski, “there has been internal and external debate about how much of this perplexing circumstance is physical versus mental.”
However, Brothers said after the latest diagnosis, per Wojnarowski, “People were saying it was a mental problem and it is not. There’s no way you’re the No. 1 pick in the world and all of a sudden you aren’t able to consistently raise your arms to shoot … Something is physically wrong. Now we have the answer to that problem.”
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer cited sources who said the 76ers had grown “tired of this saga” and considered trading Fultz, and it appears as if the Pistons are a potential option.
Detroit is currently the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference but has been to the playoffs just once since the 2008-09 campaign.
Fultz is a top draft pick who is just 20 years old and could serve as a foundational building block and insurance in case Jackson leaves for years to come when he returns to health.
from Top Viral News Blog https://ift.tt/2UHnRGs
0 Comments