Eight possible trades to fix the Philadelphia 76ers

Victor Oladipo spent most of the 2019-20 season battling his way back from injury. Now there are rumblings that he wants out and is on the trade block. If so, the Sixers should jump at the opportunity.

Right now, Oladipo is slated to become a free agent next summer. The Sixers would have the season to convince him to stick around. Despite all the controversy and uncertainty, it’s hard to find a more talented trio than Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris. Oladipo brings a potential third All-Star into the mix.

While health is an obvious concern, Oladipo is a dynamic slasher and a desperately needed closer. He can create from scratch on the perimeter, and his clutch gene is something the Sixers have been deprived of since Jimmy Butler’s departure. Not to mention the other side of the ball, where a healthy Oladipo is firmly in the conversation for All-Defense recognition.

In Oladipo, the Sixers adequately replace Josh Richardson’s on-ball defense while getting a massive upgrade on offense. With so many concerns around his knee, I’m not sure what the market looks like for Oladipo. The Sixers should tread carefully, but few teams need a home-run swing than Philadelphia.

The one issue is keeping Oladipo around long term. Financially, the Sixers were already going to struggle to keep Richardson past next season. If Oladipo returns to form, he becomes too expensive to keep on board — barring, of course, the departure of Harris or Horford. The Sixers would need to get creative and plan accordingly.