Philadelphia 76ers should make Reggie Bullock a top target before trade deadline
The Philadelphia 76ers should take advantage of the Detroit Pistons’ struggles and pursue swingman Reggie Bullock.
Sitting 1.5 games behind the Indiana Pacers, the Philadelphia 76ers are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference. Locked into a heated battle for home-court advantage, the Sixers need to upgrade their bench.
Even with recent success, the Sixers’ depth remains a prominent issue. Replacing Furkan Korkmaz‘s minutes with Jonah Bolden has provided a nice boost, but Philadelphia still has the worst second unit of any legitimate contender.
Landry Shamet and, to some degree, Bolden should be the only players locked into minutes moving forward. If the Sixers can reasonably trade for upgrades elsewhere — another backup center, another versatile defender, another backup point guard, etc. — Elton Brand should pull the trigger.
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One potential target is Reggie Bullock, who’s currently stashed on the underperforming Detroit Pistons. After starting the season strong behind Blake Griffin‘s brief MVP push, the Pistons are 20-25 and in a state of perpetual free fall. The Sixers can take advantage.
Making an even $2.5 million, Bullock is one the last year of his current contract. With the Pistons trending toward the lottery, selling an asset they might not retain makes sense. The Sixers have enough to make a decent proposal.
Trading a first-round pick for an expiring contract — especially a role player — is risky, but the Sixers have numerous second-round picks to throw in Detroit’s direction. Rather than selling or stashing on draft night, Brand can use those seconds to obtain a valuable asset before the postseason.
Bullock can immediately fill minutes in the backcourt, splitting work with Landry Shamet and T.J. McConnell in some fashion. It would be wise for the Sixers to cut down on McConnell’s minutes, so replacing him in certain lineups with an elite shooter makes sense.
Bullock is currently sniping 38.7 percent of his three-point attempts, which falls just below his career average. After shooting 44.5 percent last season, it’s clear Bullock is among the best off-ball shooters in the NBA. His movements mimic J.J. Redick and Landry Shamet to a certain degree, so the fit in Brett Brown’s offense is clean.
Unlike Marco Belinelli, who ignited the Sixers’ underwhelming bench last season, Bullock adds another crucial skill: defense. He’s a solid wing defender who can switch between a couple of positions, providing a serious upgrade over the Sixers’ current perimeter defenders beyond Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler.
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Detroit will likely get numerous calls asking about Bullock, who’s still entering his prime at 27 years old. There’s also a chance the Pistons don’t trade Bullock, preferring to re-sign him in the offseason to pair with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond long term.
If the Pistons are willing to deal for youth and flexibility, though, the Sixers can lob Furkan Korkmaz in their direction. While not a proven NBA talent, Korkmaz has given the Sixers solid minutes in spurts. If his frame improves, his defense might also improve.
The core of the package, however, would be the second-round picks Philadelphia sends in return. The Chicago Bulls’ pick — which should land in the 30-35 range — and the Kings’ pick are tempting pieces. Detroit found value in the second round last season, with Bruce Brown Jr. playing significant minutes as a rookie.
If the Sixers can peel Bullock away from Detroit for an unsubstantial price, it’s a no-brainer. He has a chance to transform the second unit without depleting the Sixers’ financial flexibility or asset collection beyond the 2018-19 season.
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An expiring contract and second-round picks is a fair price to pay.