The Philadelphia 76ers should turn their attention toward New York once buyout season hits.
With the Feb. 7 trade deadline just days away, roster moves will come in rapid succession. NBA teams will look to stockpile assets or build for the playoffs, and the Philadelphia 76ers are a prime candidate to seek major changes.
Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler form one of the league’s most potent trios. Outside the starting five, however, Brett Brown lacks serious firepower. If the goal is to compete with Boston, Toronto and Milwaukee in a few months, the Sixers need to improve the supporting cast.
There’s no doubt Elton Brand will scour the trade market, whether it’s another star (Jrue Holiday) or potential reinforcements (Nikola Mirotic, Dewayne Dedmon, Wayne Ellington, etc.). The Sixers will also anticipate a fruitful buyout market, though — ideally one that yields similar value to Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova last season.
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At the current moment, the Sixers’ best buyout candidates reside in New York. After trading away Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks acquired two expiring contracts in Wes Matthews and DeAndre Jordan. Both are players who, if bought out, should top the Sixers’ priority list.
After leaving the 15th roster spot open early in the season, Philadelphia still has the mid-level exception to burn in free agency. Matthews should be the Sixers’ top prospective — and they can offer more money than most competitive rosters.
There’s a chance someone trades for Matthews, but the odds are slim. He’s making $18.6 million, a hard number for any team — especially the Sixers — match without giving up more valuable pieces or long-term money, which the Knicks won’t take back.
Per the New York Times’ Marc Stein, the Sixers are one of several teams who plan to pursue Matthews. The Rockets, Thunder, Raptors and Warriors are also on that list.
Matthews is trending in the wrong direction, but he’s still a useful player who occupies an important role. At 6-foot-6, he’s a versatile wing defender who can spot-up proficiently from three-point range. He’s shooting 37.4 percent on 7.0 attempts per game this season.
Outside Landry Shamet, the Sixers’ perimeter reserves currently leave much to be desired. The Corey Brewer honeymoon is over, T.J. McConnell is forever limited, and Furkan Korkmaz can’t consistently produce. Matthews would be primed for a big role on day one.
Given the system fit and money available, Philadelphia should present an intriguing opportunity for Matthews. He can make a decent salary while playing alongside three All-Star caliber talents. The Sixers should make a strong push if he’s bought out.
If the Knicks also release Jordan, the Sixers should consider pitching the former All-Star center. There’s a good chance Jordan refuses a bench role behind Embiid, but the Sixers would benefit from a high-level reserve who can anchor the defense in Jo’s absence. It’s worth a shot.