Philadelphia 76ers: 5 trade-up options in 2020 NBA Draft

If the Philadelphia 76ers try to trade up in June (?), here are some potential targets.

The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in a precarious position due to the criminal mismanagement of resources in the front office. Al Horford has eaten a significant chunk of the Sixers’ cash-strapped budget, and the future feels more uncertain than it should for a team with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

It has become critically important for the Sixers to find real value in the NBA Draft. While the 2020 rookie class doesn’t project as the strongest, there are plenty of appealing prospects to be had. If the Sixers decide to condense resources and trade up, the result could be a functional piece of a contending rotation.

Here are some names to watch.

(Disclaimer: A “trade-up” scenario would probably need to involve the OKC pick conveying in the early 20s)

5. Saddiq Bey, Villanova

The Sixers can’t seem to get enough shooting. Seriously. They never seem to have enough. Saddiq Bey represents a highly appealing source of floor-spacing and offensive pop in a package the Sixers seem to covet — the long, defensively capable wing.

Bey could be one of the five or 10 best defensive prospects in the draft. At 6-foot-8, he has the size, length, and physicality to switch all over the floor. He’s someone the Sixers could plug into virtually any group, and he’d have little problem fitting in.

He has some common limitations on offense — Bey is not a gifted shot-creator by any stretch — but he does possess silky mechanics and a knockdown jump shot. The Sixers have a big man who commands double teams more than anyone in the league, as well as the best three-point manufacturer in basketball. Bey would have no shortage of clean looks.

As long as he doesn’t develop a rare degenerative muscle injury in his shoulder… Bey would look mighty fine in a Sixers uniform. Not to mention, he’s from the hometown team.