NBA Rumors: Can Philadelphia 76ers facilitate Cavs Kings trade?

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Bryan Colangelo of the Philadelphia 76ers has a conversation during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Grease the wheels

The trick is that the Philadelphia 76ers could leverage this impasse to “grease the wheels” by adding pieces to help soften the blow to either team. So what could the Philadelphia 76ers offer to each team to entice them to sign on the dotted line?

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Well, the use of a third team in any trade scenario takes place for several reasons. The first and obvious role for a third team is to absorb excess salary cap dollars in the exchange. Two teams want to deal, but the salary differential prohibits the trade from happening. In comes a white knight team to eat up the excess, usually in exchange for draft pick(s).

Filling the trade “potholes”

But there is a second role as well. In an exchange between two teams, it’s very likely one team is far more interested in the players of another team. A third team acts as a buffer, contributing players to fill vacated lineup holes, and make the entire exchange more “palatable” for all teams concerned. Again, they do so with premium players or draft pick(s).

Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking at getting a point guard, but at the expense of a shooting guard AND a power forward. So the Philadelphia 76ers could offer to add Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to their package and that would give them a neutral salary cap impact plus the added bonus of a young defensive oriented prospect to add to fill the void vacated by Shumpert.