Sixers News: Jimmy Butler Trade Doesn't Affect Markelle Fultz's Future

Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand claims the team have not lost faith in Markelle Fultz following the arrival of Jimmy Butler.

The Sixers officially unveiled Butler on Tuesday after a trade package that saw the 30-year-old and Justin Patton arrive for the likes of Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick.

It led many to believe it was the beginning of the end for Fultz's career, at least in Philadelphia. The 2017 No. 1 draft pick had to deal with injury problems last season while his shooting and mentality has been a major concern this season.

Brand, however, said Butler's arrival does not impact Fultz's future with the team.

"Not at all. It wasn't a changed view of Markelle's future," Brand said, as quoted on ESPN. "It was more of a changed view of being able to get a superstar right now and seeing where other teams were. … There are some really talented teams [in the Eastern Conference]. ... It was just a chance to have our team take another leap," he added.

Despite Brand's comments, Fultz will likely lose his starting spot in the team to Butler.

And following a botched free throw attempt against the Miami Heat this week, as well as a lack of overall confidence in his three-point shooting, the future does not seem too bright for the 20-year-old even though Brand is still hopeful about his talent.

"I've been seeing him work this summer, all this season, and he has times this season when something like [an unconventional missed shot] happens," Brand added of Fultz's free throw attempt. "But following that, he's shot it very well and it looked very fluid. He's going to have some ups and downs. He's going to have more ups than downs. You saw the talent level, in flashes; you saw how talented he is."

Brand's sentiments were echoed by Butler himself, who believes many of Fultz's problems are purely mental and that he has all the tools to be a successful player in the NBA.

"He's a talented young player. From what I can tell, a lot of things [with Fultz] are mental," Butler explained. "In this league, I think 90 percent of it is mental. If you think you can do something, you really can.

"I know how hard he works because I'm in L.A. [where Fultz] trains. [The people who train with Fultz] tell me how great he wants to be. As long as he goes hard and he's giving it all every day, the guy has my respect. I just want him to go out there, play hard, be who he is, stick to his strengths, and I know he's just going to thrive — he's going to be successful."

With all the attention on Fultz and his shooting form, many believe things would be best if he moved to a low-profile team and quietly developed. However, Brand still thinks Philadelphia is the best place for him to develop and further himself as a player.

"I still think it's the best place for him to develop because we love him and we care," Brand added. "He's with us. He's a part of us. If he goes somewhere else, I don't know what that looks like. But for him to develop, it may be the best place for him still."

"It would have been concerning if he didn't come back [from the botched free throw] and shoot three more shots and that they looked really fluid. I was actually proud that he came back, hit a shot and did what he did out there. Because he deals with a lot. He's 20 years old and very talented. It's my job to get the best out of him."

Butler is expected to make his Sixers debut against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, and it will be interesting to see how much Fultz's role will change.