The Philadelphia 76ers have a few different balls in the air right now.
While James Harden requested a sign-and-trade a few weeks ago, the Sixers could still keep the star guard. However, there are also names like Damian Lillard and Zach LaVine potentially on the trade market that could be the main targets for Philadelphia.
The Chicago Bulls have been looking to move most of their pieces but LaVine isn’t just a piece. He’s the guy that they can trade in order to jumpstart a rebuild.
Kyle Neubeck of the Audacy Original Podcast “Clap Your Hands” explained what type of option LaVine would be for the Sixers and if there are any legs to those early rumors.
“LaVine is different because they still place real value on him. We can argue about the contract and whathaveyou, but they’re asking for multiple picks, maybe a young player,” Neubeck said (4:10 in player above). “He does represent, in some ways, the middle ground option. You might be able to trade James Harden and then you hold on to Tyrese Maxey and you still come up with LaVine.”
Neubeck noted that it wouldn’t be a 1-for-1 swap, but if the Sixers could get LaVine without trading Maxey, it could be worth it.
“That’s a real conversation to have because he is talented,” he said. “You put him next to Joel Embiid, you make the argument that that guy could maybe be number two or a 2A-2B with Maxey.”
Unfortunately, there may be a lot of work to be done on a potential LaVine trade.
“I just don’t think that there have been serious discussions between those teams,” Neubeck said. “They definitely have touched base and names were floated at a certain point prior to the draft, but I’m not aware of much since then…
“I think it’s pretty far from any sort of ‘Hey, this is a real trade rumor.’”
It may not be a real trade rumor yet, but LaVine could be someone the Sixers look into as the offseason continues.
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