We’ve officially gone too far.
I like Tyrese Maxey. He’s a budding star, with a chance to be a very good player for the Sixers for a long time. The present is promising. The future is bright. There’s no reason to question his trajectory in a Sixers uniform.
Unless, of course, something better comes calling.
As the NBA rumor machine churns, hypotheticals have been floated involving the Sixers and a possible pursuit of another established star. First Bradley Beal rumors surfaced. Then came Kevin Durant. The latest? Donovan Mitchell.
While I don’t actually believe the Sixers have the assets (a lack of first-round picks will kill any potential Sixers blockbuster this summer) to pair with Maxey in a deal for a true super co-star to pair with Joel Embiid, it’s fun to think about how many players the team should be willing to swap Maxey for.
Earlier this week, nearly 70 percent of Marks and Reese poll responders said they wouldn’t trade Maxey in a deal for Mitchell, the suddenly-available Utah Jazz star. That was the final straw on the “we have overrated Maxey” camel’s back. The camel collapsed. We’ve taken Maxey love to an unhealthy level.
This isn’t a superstar. This isn’t a future top-10 player in the league. This isn’t a guy that will be in the mix for league MVPs. We’re still talking about a 6’2” guard that’s averaged a shade over 13 points per game since entering the league, and doesn’t bring much to the table on the defensive end. Plus, he’s 21. Typically, players that young don’t end up as top three players on title teams. His future may be bright, but making the puzzle fit together with Joel Embiid’s prime and whatever is left of James Harden is tricky.
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So, let’s add some reason to the Maxey conversation. The following is a list of players (of all ages and positions) the Sixers should be willing to swap Maxey for. Some would take Maxey and other assets. Some would take Maxey and a slew of other assets. Some would make more sense in straight up deals.
Don’t worry about contracts, finances, or current roster fit for this exercise. It’s simply a “would you trade Maxey if it meant getting this guy back” exercise.
Here’s my list of 35 players (in no particular order, though this is how they came to mind which likely subconsciously says something about how I’d rank them) the Sixers would benefit from trading Maxey for: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Trae Young, Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Paolo Banchero, Darius Garland, Jalen Green, LaMelo Ball, Jamal Murray, Khris Middleton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mikal Bridges, Jaden Ivey, Jaren Jackson Jr., Tyrese Haliburton, RJ Barrett and Desmond Bane.
In consideration but not on the list, thus beyond the Maxey line and not worth giving him up for: Evan Mobley, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Jrue Holiday, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson, Bradley Beal, Jrue Holiday, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Dendre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Kyrie Irving.
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Does that make Maxey the 36th best player in the NBA? Is he definitely in the top 50? As someone who’s joked about the inability for NBA fans to count correctly when making lists, I should probably lay off the math.
But there’s no reason to dismiss Maxey's reality. I’m a fan, and have been since the moment he was taken out of Kentucky. Unless one of the 35 players on my list is there for the taking, the Sixers should keep banking on his work ethic and hope a second-year jump turns into a third-year leap.
However, if one of those players (especially if it’s on a Durant/Mitchell scale) does become available and can be had for a Maxey-centered package, we all know what a smart franchise would do.
Let’s enjoy Maxey. In Doc Rivers’ words, celebrate him.
And be thrilled if the franchise can one day flip him for a better player.
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