Today’s NBA Trade Deadline expired at 3:00 p.m. ET today with no moves by the Philadelphia 76ers, but they still have some cards to play to improve this roster
The Philadelphia 76ers are fighting to make the 2018 NBA Playoffs. With just 31 games remaining to play in the season, the 76ers are hanging onto their thread of hope for the eighth and final slot for the Eastern Conference post-season play at a record of 26-25. The Detroit Pistons are close on their heels at 27-26. So there is little margin for error if the Sixers have any lapse going forward.
But the Sixers are chasing the Cleveland Cavaliers (31-22), the Washington Wizards (31-23), the Milwaukee Bucks (30-23), the Indiana Pacers (30-25) and the Miami Heat (29-26). So any sudden hot streak could propel the team into a much more favorable seeding in the playoffs. So trip and tumble versus get hot and soar. Wow… the next two months are going to be exciting, right?
Wrong price, wrong priority, wrong time
So why would a team with enough assets and salary cap space avoid making a deal at the trade deadline? Well the fact is that many rumored trades were simply TOO costly. Many of the players on the trade block were partial-year rentals, but the asking price was a first-round pick. And it was a firm ask. No equivalents, no aggregate. Selling teams wanted too much for their value.
But the opposite side of the equation must be true as well. The Philadelphia 76ers were clear in their search parameters. The team investigated above average perimeter shooters, most likely wings, and likely wanted to pair it with an exchange of Jerryd Bayless. In the end, they did not find one. But does that mean the Philadelphia 76ers cannot improve? Well actually the team has three avenues. Let’s talk about them
Card I – Promote from within
The Philadelphia 76ers are a tightly affiliated with the Delaware 87ers organization. That includes more than just players, coaches, and executives, but the close relationship with their G-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers. As such, the 76ers have the opportunity to look at the 87ers roster and cherry pick a player who could help them on a playoff run and into the playoffs.
These Philadelphia 76ers have three such prospects currently on the team. They have a 10-day contract on PG Larry Drew II, and two-way contracts on both wing player James young and guard Demetrius Jackson. All three are solid prospects with a hope of delivering on this roster.
87ers prospects as well
Still, there are some prospects at the Delaware 87ers I would be curious to see on a 10-day contract in Philly, but actually getting work for the 76ers. I believe that former Washington Husky Andrew Andrews is a solid get, and while he is seldom used (conditioning limits?), he is banging a 60 percent three-point accuracy so far. That’s pretty good while he is knocking off the rust. Another young man with a solid perimeter shot is former Ohio State forward Marc Loving. While he is not getting a ton of playing minutes, his 41.1 percent perimeter is intriguing enough to give him the “Come On Down!” invitation.
FInally, the team has both Shawn Long and Christian Wood. Wood is putting up over 21 points per game while delivering 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. He’s certainly earned a look. Meanwhile, Long is delivering 13.5 PPG, pulling down 7.1 RPG, putting up 1.4 BPG, and dishing out 1.7 APG. But he’s also launching three-pointers at a 37.5 accuracy. That’s certainly intriguing enough as well. So the 76ers have some options with promising talent in the pipeline right now. But perhaps Bryan Colangelo wants a veteran. What then?
Card II – Sign a buyout player
NBA Teams can no longer conduct trades, but many teams are now weighing the decision to cut players outright by buying out their contracts. They do so to mitigate the salary cap hit. Players do so as they can then hopefully get picked up by a playoff bound team. There are several players who may be bought out who could draw interest from the Philadelphia 76ers. Five such players are discussed in a recent FanSided article by Andrew Bernucca. One we’ve talked about too, Marco Belinelli.
We discussed the ‘plan B’ opportunity that Belinelli affords the team. And Christopher Kline agreed on a seperately written piece. When Christopher and I agree, it often results in team action. Even Owen Nelson named Belinelli as a target for the 76ers. Belinelli brings a veteran presence, a solid perimeter shooter, and a significant offensive punch off the bench. Having played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2013-2015, he already has the familiarity with Coach Brown. Although he arrived in July 2013, and Brown signed with Philadelphia in August 2013, there is enough of an overlap for both player and coach to know each other.
Belinelli buyout baby!
Marco Belinelli is finalizing a buyout agreement with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources tell ESPN. Several contenders are interested.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2018
And this one could be in the works.
There are other potential buy out players who will be looking to hook up with a playoff bound team. The fit, the skillset, the role, and the attitude will all play a huge part in any decision to be made. Tony Allen‘s name may pop into that conversation. Shabazz Muhammed could be another name to consider. Brook Lopez, despite being a center, could be in the discussion too. He’s a big man who, like Joel Embiid, shoots from the perimeter. But there is the trade off of bringing in someone new which denies opportunity to someone affiliated with the team. And that means, what about that Washington Husky guy?
Card III – Markelle Fultz on the court
There was no player on the trade block anywhere close in value to that of when-will-he-hit-the-court Markelle Fultz. None. Alternatively, there was no player in the NBA with such a confusing matter of misinformation about his status than Markelle Fultz. None. This young man developed a shoulder muscle injury, bad shot mechanics, and a pattern of diversion/misinformation/void of truth that it’s become difficult to parse out the frustration from the storyline that changes constantly to the fact that Markelle Fultz is not on the basketball court.
The team seems to struggle with constructing and sticking with a consistent narrative.
Latest and greatest news
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Bryan Colangelo on Markelle Fultz:
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) February 9, 2018
"There's always a chance that he's going to be out there soon, and there's a chance that he's not going to play this year. I can't answer that question because we don't know the answer to that."#sixers
But if you want my take on the matter, I was asked about the Markelle Fultz situation on this week’s Philadelphia Sports Table podcast with Jeff Warren and Len Hunsicker at the 53:30 mark. The skillset of Markelle Fultz does not translate well into a repetition format. That runs courter to the Philadelphia 76ers desire to have players who can execute shots on demand. Fultz is undergoing a process of pushing his “Flashdance”-like moves into the reengineering laboratory. He may not make it onto the basketball court this year as a result.
Next: Markelle Fultz might not play this year
But then again he might. And if there is a chance, why waste the money or effort on some other player? Markelle Fultz is the top pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. When he steps onto the basketball court, we may be seeing a Philadelphia 76ers trio who will be playing together for years to come.