Kentucky Wildcats shooting guard Jamal Murray. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent rumors have emerged that the Philadelphia 76ers are trying to approach the Phoenix Suns for a potential trade involving the latter's fourth overall pick in the coming 2016 NBA Draft this June.
Reports went out last week that Philadelphia's vice president of player personnel, Marc Eversley, said that the Sixers are thinking about drafting Kentucky Wildcats shooting guard Jamal Murray as the no. 1 pick in the coming draft.
With almost every mock draft list online having LSU's Ben Simmons and Duke's Brandon Ingram as the most probable top two picks, a lot of NBA analysts had since projected that Eversley's remarks is perhaps just a "smokescreen" to stir up the curiosity of other teams who has lottery selections and to let them know that they are intending to make a trade, according to NJ Advance Media.
SB Nation indicated that one speculated scenario could be a deal with the Suns, involving their no. 4 pick, in exchange for a still unknown package from the Sixers.
Philadelphia is rumored to be ready to deal either 2013 sixth overall selection Nerlens Noel or last summer's third overall pick Jahlil Okafor to interested teams before the draft as they want to land another high pick, particularly to try and get Murray.
There are still no indications whether the Suns would like to add either Noel or Okafor to their side, but any of the two would certainly be a good addition to head coach Earl Watson's roster next season as a potential frontcourt partner for the veteran Tyson Chandler in the starting unit.
Aside from Phoenix, the report mentioned that Philadelphia may also reach out to the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Minnesota Timberwolves, as the teams own the no. 2, no. 3, and no. 5 selections respectively.
Murray's stock is allegedly shooting up in most mock drafts as he is consistently landing in the top five picks as of late.
With the Celtics said to be eyeing Croatia's Dragan Bender or Providence's Kris Dunn for the third overall pick, it is safe for the Sixers to target Phoenix's fourth pick if they want to snag Murray out on draft night.
