The Philadelphia 76ers need to swing for the fences this offseason. Chris Paul presents the clearest opportunity to do so.
The Philadelphia 76ers are stuck in quicksand, and the ways out are few and far between. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can only carry an organization so far, and unless real, substantial change is made — from ownership down to the roster — Embiid and Simmons will assuredly finish their careers elsewhere.
This offseason presents an opportunity for Elton Brand to reflect on his failures as GM and initiate the change he so ardently claims is possible. Such changes will have to involve the roster, and there’s one blockbuster trade in particular that should top Brand’s priorities list.
Oklahoma City is currently locked in a 2-2 series with the Houston Rockets. After a rocky 2018-19 season and a shocking trade last summer, Paul has reasserted himself as one of the NBA’s premier point guards. He’s a top-20 player, a true ceiling-raiser, and the kind of addition that could put Philadelphia back on the Eastern Conference map.
More from Sixers News
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden
This is obviously more complex than a simple shifting of assets. Paul is 35, and even after this season, concerns about his age are valid. He’s also playing All-NBA basketball, and there’s no guarantee OKC even wants to trade him — especially if they manage to knock out Houston.
Philadelphia would need to mortgage the future — first-round picks, maybe Matisse Thybulle — to even get OKC to consider a trade. And even then, you’re only getting two years of a small point guard in the twilight of his career. It’s not as cut-and-dry as some would have it seem.
With that said, it’s still the kind of trade Philadelphia should pursue at almost any cost. Even if it involves Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and multiple draft picks, Brand should pull the trigger. And he should not hesitate.
The reasons are simple. One, Paul makes the Sixers a contender. You have to embrace the risk of a sudden decline, but if Paul plays up to his known ability, he makes the Sixers a real threat to come out of the East. Two, he’s on a bad contract, but a short contract. Three years shorter than Harris, and two years shorter than Al Horford.
Even if Paul’s $44.2 million paycheck in 2021-22 becomes an exorbitant expense — one well beyond his actual value at age 37 — the Sixers still move closer to having cap space to use in free agency. That cap space can be used to better complement Embiid and Simmons, who will still be in their primes by the summer of 2022.
On the court, it’s worth emphasizing just how well Paul fits. He’s a closer — someone who can take over the halfcourt offense late in games. He’s not the most explosive guard, but his craft and shot-making ability have never failed. He’s a savant in the pick-and-roll, one of the most respected leaders in basketball, and a vocal presence who could invigorate a notoriously even-tempered locker room.
The Sixers need someone to shake up the power dynamics not only in the front office, but in the locker room. There’s a reason Jimmy Butler was so influential, even if he didn’t make a ton of friends. He held people accountable, and that hard-boiled competitiveness — which Paul definitely shares — could greatly improve the Sixers’ overall demeanor.
Brett Brown committed to Ben Simmons at the four in Orlando, and while he’s no longer the coach, one should expect his successor to have a similar game plan. Giving Simmons the ball at the elbow, or involving him more as a screener, allows him to penetrate the defense in new ways. Next to a generational playmaking talent like Paul, who shares Simmons’ gifted basketball I.Q., it could lead to Simmons’ most impactful offensive season yet. Especially when the games count.
Paul can also make basic (and advanced) entry passes, which would benefit Embiid a great deal. That’s without mentioning the potential two-man actions, with Paul spraying the ball across the court or netting pull-up jumpers while Embiid pressures the rim.
On the season, Paul averaged 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists while shooting a remarkable 48.9 percent from the field. He’s a multi-faceted player, poking and prodding the defense at every level until he finds a weakness to exploit. He transforms this Philadelphia offense for the better.
The Sixers have a very limited number of options moving forward. While Paul does not come without risk, the potential benefits far outweigh the potential downside. It’s a trade the Sixers have to make if at all feasible.
Would I put money on this kind of trade getting done? No. Either contract the Sixers use to match salary — Harris or Horford — puts them at a severe negotiating disadvantage. Plus, other teams will probably target Paul. Miami and Milwaukee are a couple destinations that come to mind, depending on how the postseason plays out.