Philadelphia 76ers should consider trading T.J. McConnell to the Suns

If the Philadelphia 76ers are taking a long term approach in roster decisions, then they should consider trading T.J. McConnell to the Phoenix Suns.

Usually a trade between to other teams shouldn’t have any affect on the Philadelphia 76ers and that could very much be the case in the Phoenix Suns trading Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss to the Houston Rockets for Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton. However, the Suns are in need of a starting level point guard seeing as they have are thin at the position at the moment. The Suns need for a playmaker might perk the interest of the Sixers in dealing one of the team’s point guards.

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Before getting into this, let it be known that I’m not suggesting the 76ers trade either Ben Simmons or Markelle Fultz to the Suns. That still leaves Philadelphia a few point guard options to send to Phoenix. However, it’s important to remember that the Suns are looking for a starting caliber playmaker, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. That would leave Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell as the only options that the Sixers could possibly trade to the Suns.

While trading Bayless would be the ideal option for Philly, it be quite difficult to execute salary cap limitations of both clubs. However, trading McConnell would be a much easier task in regards to salary cap implications.

Now the idea of trading McConnell may not come across as a great idea for 76ers fans, however it might be the best long term move the club could make. McConnell is on the last year of his contract and is due for a significant pay increase.

With other players like Simmons, Fultz and Dario Saric are in line for contract extensions, McConnell might be a casualty of the salary cap. If the Sixers believe that trading him is the right move, there’s one potential trade that could benefit both sides.

This trade benefits both sides. The Suns get a defender that is a reliable playmaker who can get Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton the ball, McConnell can also stretch the floor occasionally. McConnell’s 3-point percentage was really good this last season and should keep opposing defenses honest. He isn’t a high usage player which is good for Phoenix and their young core. McConnell has a chance to become the long term starter for the Suns, something he wouldn’t have a chance at in Philadelphia.

Philly gets a point guard that can defend at a similar level that McConnell can in Shaquille Harrison. He may not be the playmaker or rebounder that McConnell is, but his previously mentioned defense should still be a solid addition to the Sixers bench. While Harrison is a nice addition, he’s not the most important part of the hypothetical trade.

Getting an unprotected second round pick from a rebuilding team is a very valuable asset. The 76ers could either keep the pick for the up coming draft or use it in a trade to get a more valuable player or pick later on. Exchanging Harrison and the pick for McConnell should allow the 76ers long term cap flexibility while also being able to mimic McConnell’s on-the-court production to a lesser extent this upcoming season as well.

If the Philadelphia 76ers are looking at the long term picture, as their offseason moves have suggested thus far, then trading McConnell for future flexibility and draft assets makes more sense then risking losing next summer for nothing. If the 76ers can find a way to keep McConnell and maintain the salary cap that would be great, however based on future extensions, that seems unlikely.