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NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 trades to save Markelle Fultz

By Josh Ejnes

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Markelle Fultz #20 in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 127-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Markelle Fultz #20 in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 127-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Grizzlies, trade deadline
Grizzlies, trade deadline /

4. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are a team that will certainly be active at the deadline, and the Sixer should try their best to get in on the action. Things haven’t gone well in Memphis this season, and as the team eyes a rebuild it’s in their best interest to shed some expiring contracts with an eye on the future.

Fultz has the potential to really fit the team’s needs; he’s a young and athletic player that has the potential to be a consistent triple-double guy, and he and Jaren Jackson Jr. could be a nightmare for opposing frontcourts if he was comfortable moving to small forward (with how he shoots he should consider it.)

One of the great things about Fultz in college was how complete of a player he was; beyond his high point average he also put up decent rebound and assists numbers, aspects of his game that haven’t really shown through in his limited NBA play.

If there is anyone who could be a good influence on Fultz reconnecting with these aspects of his game it’s Mike Conley (though there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the team past the deadline).

Conley and Fultz are similarly sized, and as a score-first point guard, he could be a model for Fultz in how to distribute while attacking.

A lot of the risk of taking on Fultz would be mitigated by how bad the Grizzlies are. They constantly get trounced in the Western Conference, so if Fultz ends up being bad through the rest of the year he’ll just help them fight towards a better pick in the upcoming draft.

The Grizzlies have a few players that could give up in a Fultz deal, but one that comes to the forefront as a good bench addition for the Sixers would be JaMychal Green. The Sixers bench is ranked 29th in the league in rebounds, an issue Green could help remedy.