The 2020 trade deadline nears… what might the Philadelphia 76ers do?
Alaa… we’re coming in for a landing. We’re one week from the Feb. 6 trade deadline, which means the Philadelphia 76ers are liable to shake things up in the very near future. Reports seem to predict a rather tame deadline, but I’m not so confident. The Sixers are home run hitters, and Elton Brand is Barry Bonds.
All this to say, Brand’s very brief tenure as GM already includes midseason trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. He managed to exchange half the bench last deadline, for good measure. It’s clear Brand is an ambitious soul, and the Sixers could use a sprinkle of ambition this time around.
This season could end up as Brett Brown’s final go-around. If the Sixers are unable to break into genuine contention — a conference finals appearance, at the very least — ownership might finally have incentive to pull the plug Bryan Colangelo always wanted to pull.
If the Sixers view this season as pivotal, then a light shuffle at the trade deadline — if nothing more — seems inevitable. The bench still needs a lot of work, and Al Horford‘s fit at power forward has caused issues to date.
I would not discount the possibility of another blockbuster. The Sixers could very well shop Horford in search of a more fitting fifth star, at risk of a slight talent downgrade. My confidence doesn’t warrant such a prediction, but I wouldn’t predict against it. Just saying.
Here’s what my crystal ball says about the Sixers’ trade deadline.