Rumors: Could The Philadelphia 76ers Trade Back?

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns

With the fourth pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns are at the cusp of a team who could reach the number one pick with a draft pick exchange plus additional assets.

The Suns have  the fourth, the thirteenth, and the twenty-eighth picks of the 2016 NBA draft, and have needs in the front court.  They also have a pair of fine point guards in Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, each of whom would be welcomed indeed in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey.

Since Phoenix is in the same “rebuild” trench as the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s unlikely that they will consider trading their first round worth of draft picks for the number one pick, that’s too many opportunities to find quality talent.

But the Suns may part with their 4 and 28 picks and Brandon Knight for say, the Sixers first round draft pick and point guard T.J. McConnell.  That would give the Suns the opportunity to grab Ben Simmons, place a very promising point guard on their roster to replace Brandon Knight, and retain their 13 pick for a quality front court player like power forward Skal Labissiere from the University of Kentucky or Gonzaga’s power forward/center Damantas Sabonis .

Since adding first time head coach Earl Watson, the Phoenix Suns are looking forward to rebuilding the team and with three first round draft picks it would be an easier path to part ways with some veterans here and look to add quality through the draft.   That could be the opening a team like the 76ers could leverage, by dangling a number one pick to a team desperate for prospects with great upsides to lead Watson’s team going forward.

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