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Could Richaun Holmes be a valuable trade asset?

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 10: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 10: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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Despite a strong second season, Richaun Holmes‘ greatest value to the Philadelphia 76ers might be on the open market.

It’s 2017 and Richaun Holmes is the Philadelphia 76ers‘ best pick from the 2015 NBA Draft. He has outclassed the third overall pick in Jahlil Okafor, while his energy on the boards and persistence on the defensive end has quickly turned him into one of the more intriguing young talents in the league.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

There’s not necessarily star potential there, but Holmes checks all of the boxes when analyzing the necessities of modern day bigs. He’s mobile out to the perimeter, switching screens and moving his feet well at all levels. He’s also a dog on the glass, cleaning up offensive boards while bouncing his way to defensive rebounds at a high clip. When you add flashes of a 3-point shot to that mix, Holmes has the tools of an above average backup — or even starter — in the league for the foreseeable future.

And that’s where Holmes’ situation in Philadelphia gets tricky. He’s affordable as it currently stands, but may not have the rotational necessity to warrant a long term investment from a Sixers team that will need to shell out money in an effort to retain their core.

A young, versatile two-way big like Holmes has some value in today’s NBA — and the Sixers should consider taking advantage of that on the trade market.

Holmes is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019, which already limits the leverage Philadelphia might have in this situation. They won’t have the ability to match offer sheets like we see with first round picks, which would allow Holmes to walk for nothing if he felt that a different destination, or a larger monetary sum, suited him better.

Assuming his current growth curve continues, we can expect to see Holmes command a sizable chunk of cash. In a market that gifts Amir Johnson $11 million, there’s a chance that Holmes could snag double digits in the right climate.

Must Read: 5 places where Jahlil Okafor could find success

As we saw with Nerlens Noel — albeit on a much larger scale — Philadelphia is going to be hesitant to commit long term to an expensive backup plan at the five spot.

That’s where Holmes’ trade value comes into play. The Sixers could ship him out as early as this season, giving teams two years of Holmes at a contract that falls well below $2 million before forcing them to make a decision. That gives Bryan Colangelo and company the potential to nab a young asset or two, while the opposing end of the deal — at the absolute least — gets Holmes for a semi-extended run.

Holmes is the type of player teams want on their roster. His effort is relentless, while his high-energy personality shines off the court as well. He’s a good young kid for any locker room, and there are plenty of teams, whether they’re aging or rebuilding, who could benefit from his presence on the team.

That also jibes well with the Sixers’ culture, which makes retaining Holmes the ideal long term. It’s a matter of affordability, though, and Holmes isn’t trending in the right direction from that standpoint.

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Philadelphia has the means necessary to replace Holmes if he were traded as well. Jonah Bolden has already made himself an option next season, while Anzejs Pasecniks and Mathias Lessort will both be waiting overseas.

The Sixers will still have enough cap room to pursue more affordable backups. Even with Robert Covington and Joel Embiid extensions on the docket in the near future, circa $61 million in cap space gives them plenty of wiggle room. Investing long term in Holmes simply doesn’t make since, though, as that cap space will eventually dry up once Simmons and Saric hit the market in a few years.

A lot of this still depends on Embiid’s health, as another major injury could persuade the Sixers to invest in a more stable backup. We could also see Holmes’ value change rather significantly with the 2018 NBA Draft. If the Lakers’ pick falls outside the top five — which seems reasonable — they may have a shot at a top flight center prospect in the vein of Mo Bamba, DeAndre Ayton or Wendell Carter.

That too could be their route towards an affordable Holmes replacement.

As this Sixers team moves into a more competitive era, maintaining financial flexibility is a must. We’ve seen the pitfalls that teams can come across when budgeting poorly, and that’s something that Bryan Colangelo and the rest of the Sixers’ brass needs to avoid.

Next: 7 reasons why the Sixers will be better than the Lakers

Richaun is an excellent player and should have a lengthy career in this league. That long career just might not be in Philly.