As we approach tonight's NBA Draft, trade rumors and speculation are sure to heat up as teams jockey for position in an effort to select one of the many highly touted prospects. Among the teams that reportedly have a desire to move up from their current draft position is the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, the Sixers discussed the possibility of trading Markelle Fultz and their two first round picks in order to move up in the draft for Michael Porter Jr.
"The Philadelphia 76ers had internal discussions about packaging the No. 10 and 26 picks, along with former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, to move into the top five, league sources told The Athletic. The target was Porter during these discussions. However, that thinking dampened with Porter's back remaining a major question mark. If JJ Redick leaves in free agency, Fultz is the favorite to start at shooting guard."
A shoulder injury limited Fultz, the #1 pick in the 2017 draft, to just 14 regular season games during his rookie season, in which he averaged 7.1 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting just 40.5% from the field.
Porter Jr., a 6'11 forward, is one of the most intriguing players in this year's draft, but his health is also a concern. He was the #2 overall recruit coming out of high school in 2017 but never really got a chance to prove himself at the collegiate level due to a back injury he suffered just minutes into the season. Porter Jr.'s health is certainly a concern for some teams selecting in the Top-10, but most mock drafts still see the 19-year old kid going in the 5-8 range.