Toronto Raptors: Should Masai try to grab Markelle Fultz from 76ers?

The Toronto Raptors have shown they can develop prospects into players. Should Masai Ujiri pitch the Philly 76ers on washing their hands of disappointing Markelle Fultz?

My colleague Mike Bossetti recently jumped into the “Should we or shouldn’t we?” discussion with respect to the imminent departure of Carmelo Anthony from the Houston Rockets. I completely agree with Mike: the Toronto Raptors should stay totally away from ‘Melo. The man seems to bring trouble wherever he goes these days, and he’s playing old tapes of Glory Days in his head. He’s not a difference-maker any more.

In the spirit of considering troubled players, the Philadelphia 76ers seem completely perplexed with point guard Markelle Fultz. I don’t blame them, and even if I had any suggestions about how to fix his badly broken shot, I wouldn’t share them. At least, not while the young man is wearing a 76ers jersey – if he’s in Toronto, that’s different.

Fultz was the number 1 overall selection out of Washington in the 2017 draft. He didn’t play virtually all of his rookie season with shoulder problem(s) and he’s certainly not out of the woods yet. It’s unsettling to consider the possibility that, like Greg Oden in 2007, the career of a draft’s top choice may be done after barely getting started, due to injury. Anthony Bennett, the 2013 #1, also appears to have no chance to resurrect his career, though in his case the injuries were self-inflicted, and above the neck.

Philadelphia has pegged out a strong claim to Eastern contention by trading for Jimmy Butler. However, they gave up a lot of their outside shooting in return, and didn’t have a surplus to begin with. If they are going to part with Fultz, they will want a gunner.

C.J. Miles has not had a lot of fun since arriving in Toronto before last season. Does he need a change of scenery? He’s been struggling to re-discover his deep shot, and is nicked up once more.

Yes, the trade work, to a shocking degree

The Trade Machine is fine with this trade – neither team gains or loses anything! Financially the salaries are so close (within $ 7,000.) it beggars belief. 

While the money may work, the visibility might not. The outcry in Philadelphia would be deafening. The fans of all that city’s teams are known for their…shall we say…excitability. For 76ers fans who until recently endured years of dreadful teams while “trusting the process“, the thought of giving up on a #1 pick for an injured 31-year-old rotation player might be too much to bear. We’d hear the screaming across the border.

The Raptors can’t even sweeten the pot with a draft pick. Our 2019 selection goes to San Antonio as part-payment for Kawhi Leonard. (Maybe they would accept our 2021 pick?)

Fultz won’t provide Toronto with anything noteworthy this year.  He would have to accept a lengthy sojourn in the G League. He needs to simultaneously fully recover from his mystery injury, and rebuild his shooting stroke. Those are things which will take months.

However, a healthy Fultz, complete with functioning jump shot, is an intoxicating prospect.

Alex McKechnie is the Raptors’ justifiably celebrated Director of Sports Science. There aren’t many people on the planet whom I’d suggest could take on the task of fixing Fultz, but Alex is one.

I’m not clear in my own mind whether the distraction of rehabbing Fultz would be worth the effort. He may be too badly broken, either in body or mind (or both – I hope not). What do you think, Rapture Nation? If you like the gamble, is there another deal we might make? Comments, please.