Brown not bothered by latest shot from departed Fultz

CAMDEN, N.J. >> Some day, and that day has been a long time coming, Brett Brown will answer his final question about Markelle Fultz. Wednesday was not that day.

The failed No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft having been traded by the Sixers to Orlando, Fultz was quoted around the All-Star break as saying, “It really excites me to have coaches that are going to push you and not just tell you what you want to hear.”

Surfacing for the first time since that comment, Brown had an opportunity to respond after practice Wednesday.

“He didn’t mean that,” the Sixers’ coach said. “And I spoke back and forth. I think that he is a good kid, he’s a good young man. And truly we wish him well. We wish him well.”

Due to a shoulder injury, Fultz played just 14 games as a rookie, often demonstrating unusual shooting form. He played another 19 this season, starting 15, before reporting more shoulder issues. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.

In his 33 games with the Sixers, Fultz averaged 7.7 points. He was sent to Orlando at the trade deadline for Jonathon Simmons and two draft picks.

“Everybody here sort of lived through his days with us,” Brown said. “And I wish him well.”

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Zhaire Smith, the 16th overall pick in the last draft, has not played a game for the Sixers due to a foot fracture. But the 6-4 swingman was a partial participant at practice Wednesday.

“He moved around a little bit,” Brown said. “He competed. It was great to see him. It reminded us of how athletic he is. He had a bounce today. It’s just good to have him included with his teammates.”

Smith will be dispatched to Delaware of the G-League, where he will continue his rehab. It is unclear if he will play in any of the Sixers’ remaining 24 regular-season games.

“I don’t know,” Brown said. “It wasn’t my expectation. But to see him move around with his teammates, from a human standpoint, was cool. I hope for sure we can get him in a G-League environment. But that is still being advised to me.”

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Furkan Korkmaz injured his right knee in the Feb. 12 game against Boston. An MRI revealed a meniscus tear. Korkmaz was ruled out for a Thursday night visit from the Miami Heat. According to the Sixers, surgery remains an option.

The second-year pro has averaged 5.8 points this season.

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The Wednesday practice was the Sixers’ first since the All-Star break. Since Joel Embiid, who will be out at least a week with a sore knee, did not participate, it dulled Brown’s stated goal of having as much time as possible to mine the best from his new starting lineup.

“We have 50 days left,” Brown said. “We’ve broken it down: How many practices, how many films, how many game-day trainings?

“It’s not ideal,” he continued, about the Embiid situation. “But it would be quite naive to think I will have this group perfect for all these days. This sort of happened sooner than you wished, but it happened. And we’ll move on.”