Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand has implied that the there is no desire to part ways with struggling guard Markelle Fultz.

The two-year player has been linked with a move away from Philly this season, with several teams said to be interested in acquiring him following his difficult start to the season. However, Brand says the team is solely focused on the Fultz's health.

A lingering shoulder problem has seen Fultz withdraw from playing. And he visited a specialist in New York this week in an attempt to get some closure.

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via clutchpoints.com

The player was due for his special visit on Monday but it was reported that a determination would be made later in the week.

Brand has knocked back the suggestions of a trade for the player, insisting that the reports of such are "just noise".

"Our sole focus with Markelle right now is his health," he told The Athletic's Michael Lee on Wednesday. "We hope to know more in the coming days, but the priority is helping him. Anything else you may see or hear out there is just noise."

Sixers star Joel Embiid recently spoke up in defence of the 2017 No.1 draft pick, hinting that former GM Bryan Colangelo did not support the player but things are different now.

 

"Last year I said that I felt like a lot of people didn't have his back. And, you know, that was with the previous management," the center told reporters last week.

" But I feel like everybody has been trying to do their job helping.

"I thought I went through it my first two years, but this is different. I don't know. Honestly, I don't know what is going on and I'm just a player on the 76ers... All I can do is try to help him and give him good advice."

via nbcsports.com

What This Means

It appears that the 76ers really do consider Fultz to be part of their plans. But it seems like it's going to be a long way back for a player who has lost his spots as both a starter and a secondary backup.

Meanwhile, he has been reported as being a target for the Phoenix Suns, who now have two open roster spots after waiving point guard Isaiah Canaan this week. The Houston Rockets have also been mentioned as a potential landing spot for the player.

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