Despite numerous rumors, the 76ers haven’t made any trades since the start of the regular season. With Daryl Morey at the helm, and the NBA trade deadline this Thursday, that seems bound to change any day now. Two of the biggest names that have been floated, Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine, appear unlikely to be traded at this point.
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It’s still unclear if Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry is on the trade block or not, but if he is, expect the Sixers to be major contenders. It’s tough to even guess if the Toronto Raptors will be buyers or sellers at this season’s trade deadline. They’re currently in eleventh place in the Eastern Conference. This season they can enter a mini-play-in tournament for the playoffs if they end the season anywhere from seventh to tenth in the conference. If the Raptors do decide to sell, Norman Powell and Chris Boucher could also be targets for the Sixers.
Even if the Sixers are unable to add any of those players there are plenty of options that could be available to help the Eastern Conference leaders in their quest for a championship. How Sixers’ owner Josh Harris feels about the Sixers current luxury tax situation will play a significant role in the team’s transactions but here are the main players I’m keeping my eye on as potential future Sixers and what it might take to get them to Philly:
Evan Fournier, SG/SF, Orlando Magic – Fournier is averaging just over 19 points per game on 39% 3pt shooting for the second worst team in the East. He’s on a $17 million expiring contract and would likely cost the Sixers a draft pick or two, along with Danny Green’s $15 million expiring deal. The Sixers would sacrifice some defense in giving up Green but in exchange they’d add a talented scorer to their starting lineup, and a head start on signing him long term.
Wayne Ellington, SG, Detroit Pistons – This seems like the perfect time for the Wynnewood native to come home. The Pistons are the worst team in the east and have already jettisoned Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose. Ellington is shooting 42% from deep this season and reportedly is available for just a second round draft pick, something Daryl Morey should have no issue parting with. Ellington, a free agent after this season, is only making $1.6 million this season. The Sixers could absorb that deal with the James Ennis trade exception. Ellington would be a much needed reliable scorer and veteran presence off the bench for the Sixers, or he could start and the bench would gain Seth Curry’s skills. Seems like a reunion made in heaven.
Delon Wright, PG, Detroit Pistons – Wright is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career. He is a solid scorer from all parts of the court and a reliable defender. The 28-year-old could help stabilize the Sixers inconsistent bench. Wright is signed through the 2021-22 season, making $9 million this season and $8.5 million in the final year of his deal. The Sixers would likely have to give up a first round pick for Wright and the contracts of Mike Scott and Terrance Ferguson would match his salary cap figure. Trading away Scott would leave the Sixers with a smaller bench but it might be worth it for a player of Wright’s caliber. The Sixers could also consider sending Danny Green’s contract to the Pistons for Wright, Wayne Ellington, and another player (maybe Rodney McGruder or Dennis Smith Jr.).
George Hill, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder – With a $9.59 million cap hit this season and $10 million next; the same Sixers players that could net Wright could be involved in a trade for Hill instead. The twelfth year man might be the preferred target for the Sixers as he’s making threes at a 38.6% clip this season and has been in the playoffs in eleven of his twelve seasons. All of that along with his defensive prowess would seem to make Hill an ideal fit for the Sixers, providing them with a true point guard off the bench. While Oklahoma City is on the edge of the Western Conference playoff picture, they might be looking to shed Hill in exchange for expiring contracts.
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Sacramento Kings – Philly sports fans might bitterly remember Bjelica as the shortest tenured Philly athlete since Frank Gore. Despite being in the midst of a down season with the 17 win Kings; the Serbian has actually been one of the more reliable shooting big men over the past few years. He shot over 40% from three in each of the prior three seasons, and his career average of 38.7% is significantly better than Sixers current backup power-forward Mike Scott’s 36.4%. Bjelica would likely be most valuable to the Sixers as a stretch five off the bench, freeing up more space for Ben Simmons when Joel Embiid comes out than Dwight Howard currently does. Another expiring contract, the Sixers could match Bjelica’s $7.15 million with Mike Scott and either Terrance Ferguson or Vincent Poirier. They could also just absorb the deal with the trade exception from the Al Horford trade. A second round pick would also likely change hands.
Larry Nance Jr., PF, Cleveland Cavaliers – The 28-year-old is signed through the 2022-23 season, with a cap hit that decreases each season from his current $11.7 million salary, so Nance would be an investment for the Sixers beyond this season. Given his age and talent, the Sixers would need to offer up at least a first round pick, if the Cavaliers are even willing to trade him. Similar to the other deals mentioned here, either Danny Green or a combination of Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, and Vincent Poirier would get the job done from a salary matching perspective. Nance would be a huge upgrade off the bench over the lackluster Mike Scott, injecting some much needed energy into the Sixers second unit. He’s a great defender and is having his best season shooting from deep, hitting at a 36.7% clip. There’s a chance Cleveland rebuffs all offers but the Sixers would be wise to at least try.
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, Indiana Pacers – The Pacers are ninth in the East right now but as they look to the future they might be willing to deal McDermott’s expiring $7.3 million contract in exchange for a draft pick or two. That’s easily absorbed by the Sixers with the Al Horford trade exception or a pairing of Mike Scott and Vincent Poirier. McDermott would upgrade the shooting off the Sixers bench. He’s connecting from three at 37.2% this season but has made 40.7% of his treys in his career.
There are of course some other more expensive, and I think less likely, players the Sixers could acquire. Less likely because I think Morey will be reluctant to part with young talent (Matisse Thybulle or Tyrese Maxey) or more than one or two first round picks; and Harris might not want to take on a massive contract. Still, here are some names to keep an eye: San Antonio Spurs’ center LaMarcus Aldridge, guard Patty Mills, and forward Rudy Gay, Chicago Bulls’ forwards Otto Porter Jr. and Thaddeus Young, Sacramento Kings’ guard Buddy Hield and forward Harrison Barnes, and Houston Rockets’ guard Victor Oladipo.
And here some less expensive targets the Sixers could add to their bench: Atlanta Hawks’ guard Tony Snell, Chicago Bulls’ guard Garrett Temple, New Orleans Pelicans’ guard Josh Hart, and Houston Rockets’ guard/forward Danuel House.
We’ll know soon enough if any of these players will be joining the Sixers for the stretch run or if the team would rather wait and see who becomes available via buyout.
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Follow Moshe Kravitz on Twitter @MosheKravitz