Rumor: Truthfulness could be holding up a Markelle Fultz trade

If you’re unaware, things are not going particularly well for Markelle Fultz and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Yes, in fact the top pick in 2017’s NBA Draft may very well be leaving the City of Brotherly Love sooner than later. The struggling shooting guard was made more expendable after Philadelphia’s trade for Jimmy Butler on November 12th.

The good news for Philly is that the trade suitors are there. The bad news for everyone is that there’s significant concern that Fultz’s camp isn’t being totally truthful regarding the reasons for the second-year pro’s struggles.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Markelle Fultz’s trade value has dwindled, but there is a market for him -- under a certain condition. He and his representatives need to be truthful, a league source says.

In other words, potential 76ers trade partners don’t want Fultz saying that his right shoulder and wrist are bothering him if he actually has a mental block that’s hindering his shooting, the source said.

If this all gets straightened out, Pompey says your Phoenix Suns are favorites to land Fultz.

That was the word coming out of Cleveland, as the Cavaliers were interested in taking a chance on the 2017 first overall pick before trading Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, sources said. The Phoenix Suns are among the teams with some level of interest, a source said.

Is it the ‘yips?’ Is it a legit injury? Does it even matter? What’s a deal you’d be comfortable with the Suns pursuing? At very least I think we can all agree that it’s fun to have something intriguing to discuss when your favorite team is 4-17. Stay tuned.