The growing trend of top prospects picking and choosing their pre-draft workouts has now manifested itself in a somewhat flattering way for the Celtics: Markelle Fultz only wants to talk to them.
According to Keith Pompey of Philly.com, Fultz has told teams that he will only work out for the Celtics.
The Celtics hold the first overall pick in this month, with Fultz the projected top selection. Fultz is currently in town meeting with the Celtics.
Late last month, C’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told Toucher & Rich projected No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball had notified the Celtics he would not work out with them. Ball is expected to be selected by the Lakers, who hold the second pick.
Though Ainge said it’s “not ideal” when players won’t work out for them, he noted that a player not working out with a team typically is not a major deterrent.
“We’ve drafted guys that wouldn’t come in for workouts before,” Ainge said. “It’s not the end of the world. We’ve watched them play a ton. We have a lot of information on them. Sometimes players don’t want to come in, not because they don’t like you, they see our roster. They think they would prefer to go to another team.”