The Philadelphia 76ers need a blockbuster. Let me help.
After a season of profound disappointment, the Philadelphia 76ers are left on the brink of insignificance. If the front office is going to salvage whatever is left of “the process,” it will require some creativity — and more likely than not, the departure of some valuable assets.
The Sixers should absolutely not trade Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons. Any trades should aim to restructure the roster around Embiid and Simmons, not replace them. For all the valid criticisms of Philadelphia’s two young superstars, it’s almost always better to hold on to your young superstars. End of story.
With that said, no one else is untouchable. For the right price, Philadelphia should happily part with anyone on the roster if it improves their immediate outlook. The Sixers are built to contend, and with no cap space and a rigid financial situation, it’s important to squeeze as much as possible out of a win-now situation.
That’s not to say the Sixers should blindly mortgage the future, but if it takes some first-round picks to shed Al Horford or Tobias Harris, you have to do it — especially if the return includes remotely beneficial players. Such is life when you’ve royally screwed up your payroll.
Here are eight trades to save the Sixers. Naturally, a disclaimer: most of these trades will involve some level of conjecture. This is all hypothetical, none of it rooted in factual real-life information, and very much of my own doing. Do not consider this article a “report” of some sort. These are not rumors. These are suggestions.
This would require some level of desperation from the Bulls’ front office, as well as a high opinion of Tobias Harris. The Sixers may need to offer even more than Thybulle and the No. 21 pick to offload Harris’ contract.
With that said, Otto Porter Jr. is similarly overpaid, but is on the final year of his contract. Last season was a down year for Porter, but he’s a long, capable wing defender who hits 3s at an efficient rate. In fact, not long ago, he was one of the most efficient shooters in basketball — period. Despite his struggles, Porter netted 38.7 percent of his triples last season.
Porter is a more natural fit than Harris, albeit the talent drop-off is severe. He can spot up along the perimeter, beat closeouts, and provide a snug fit at the small forward spot. The most appealing aspect of this trade, however, is that expiring contract.
Tomas Satoransky is another player who can provide real value for Philadelphia. With Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson expected to leave in free agency, the Sixers will need reinforcements in the second unit — especially with Thybulle on the way out. Satoransky is a knockdown shooter, a measured playmaker, and at 6-foot-7, he fits the Sixers’ theme of oversized players.
The Bulls add a potential cornerstone in Harris, who can accompany Zach LaVine as a perimeter scoring threat. If Chicago truly buys into Harris, however, it will likely require more trades beyond this one. The current roster is not built to best utilize Harris’ skill set.
The Cavaliers are a long way out from contending. Both Kevin Love and Al Horford have the same amount of years left on their contracts, so it’s not out of the question for Cleveland to eat Horford’s deal in exchange for draft compensation. Love doesn’t want to be there and has little utility on a team actively trying to lose.
Love is not an ideal fit in Philadelphia. He will get forced out of the post by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, while his defense is exploitable in a postseason setting. With that said, he’s a much better shooter than Horford, and for that reason alone is a drastically better fit in the starting five.
We have seen Love do damage in a spot-up heavy role before. He can benefit from the pressure Embiid and Simmons put on the rim, all while carrying the offense when Embiid sits. Love is better equipped to lead the second unit as a “backup center” than Horford, even if the lack of rim protection is potentially problematic.
This is one of the most feasible trades on this list. Cleveland has no reason to hold tight to Love, and there aren’t a ton of suitors for Love right now. The Sixers get better, the Cavs get a pick (or maybe even two), and everyone wins. Cleveland will have an unnecessarily large contract on the books regardless.
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.
The Mavs are undoubtedly happy with Seth Curry on such a team-friendly contract. This hypothetical comes down to just how highly the Mavs value Matisse Thybulle, who despite his offensive limitations is one of the most compelling defenders to enter the league in recent memory.
Dallas was short on wing defense this season, and rumblings suggest that the Mavs want more “dogs” in the locker room. Thybulle may not have that exact disposition, but he’s a creator of chaos — someone who can generate turnovers, and by extension, create fast break opportunities for Luka Doncic and the Mavs offense.
Thybulle is younger than Curry, he fits Doncic’s timeline, and he could develop into a full-time starter within the next season or two. His nose for the basketball, paired with Kristaps Porzingis’ elite rim protection, would give the Mavs a solid foundation to build on defensively.
In Curry, the Sixers get a knockdown shooter and another capable point guard — two birds with one stone. He can run the pick-and-roll, fly around screens Redick-style, or simply space to the corners while Embiid works his magic. If the Sixers can get Curry without a first-round pick, it’s a no-brainer. Thybulle simply doesn’t provide enough offense for how this Philadelphia roster is structured.
The Nets are primed to contend next season. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant healthy, it would make sense to swap Spencer Dinwiddie — on the verge of a big payday next summer — for a better immediate fit. Richardson makes a great deal of sense, and could cost less to retain in 2021.
Richardson is an elite on-ball defender and someone who could capably start next to Irving in the backcourt, while Caris LeVert assumes sixth man duties. Or vice versa. On offense, Brooklyn is a much better home for Richardson. He wouldn’t need to create his own offense so frequently, inside deferring to Irving, Durant, and LeVert — all while maximizing his ability as a slasher and spot-up shooter.
For the Sixers, Dinwiddie provides a much-needed boost at the point guard spot. He’s comfortable creating from scratch and can help buoy the offense late in games. We have evidence of Dinwiddie has a bonafide closer. He only shot 30.8 percent from deep last season, but he attempted over six per game. More often than not, volume is more important than percentage.
Dinwiddie is not a perfect fit next to Embiid and Simmons, but he does have experience sharing the court with other playmakers — chiefly Irving and D’Angelo Russell. He should make it work with Simmons, who is expected to play more of a point forward role from here on out.
It’s never fun to make trades in-division, and some GMs are scared off by the potential consequences of seeing a former player four times a year. But for both Philadelphia and Brooklyn, this trade makes a great deal of sense.
I’ve written multiple times about why the Sixers should pursue Chris Paul. This trade is not without risk. Clearly, you are giving up a much younger Tobias Harris, as well as draft capital and two valuable young pieces in Thybulle and Milton. There’s a chance Philadelphia can dangle Horford in the CP3 sweepstakes. That is obviously the ideal pathway.
If the Thunder shoot down Horford and inside opt for a more readily beneficial player, Harris is the option. Paul’s contract in shorter and, simply put, he’s a much better player. Age disparity and all, you take CP3 over Harris seven days a week.
With that said, the risk involved could scare away some fans. Paul is 35 years old, and as we’ve seen with Horford, it’s only a matter of time until every former All-Star hits a brick wall. If the Sixers trade Harris and half of the future for Paul, then he melts into a puddle, it could get tricky to navigate.
In the end, you have to look at it this way. Unless a major trade is made — likely involving Harris’ or Horford’s contract — the Sixers will not win a championship. This current roster is going nowhere fast. The Sixers have no cap space, no flexibility, and no overwhelmingly appetizing assets. Paul is good enough in his current state to propel Philadelphia to championship contention. It’s a risk you have to take.
If Paul flames out, Embiid gets frustrated, and the Sixers end up in a bottomless pit of despair — fine, it didn’t work. But the Sixers are already heading in that direction, and Paul is one of the most attainable players who can change that course.
This would require Jrue Holiday deciding he wants out of New Orleans. If that does happen — which is possible, considering Holiday’s looming extension deadline — the Sixers should throw everything and the kitchen sink at GM David Griffin. Holiday is too good a fit to ignore, all irony aside.
The Horford contract is possibly a dealbreaker, as any financial flexibility aligned with Zion Williamson’s burgeoning career is a luxury worth preserving. With that said, if the Pelicans believe Horford can rekindle some of his old magic in a more friendly team environment, he could mark a natural progression at center. Derrick Favors happens to be a free agent.
Of course, Philadelphia would need to saturate a potential trade package with assets and draft capital. New Orleans gets another dose of elite perimeter defense in Thybulle, as well as multiple first-round picks. All for Holiday, who is on an expiring contract and, in this hypothetical situation, probably does not want to return.
Bringing Holiday back to South Philly would immediately boost the Sixers’ status as contenders. He’s one of the best defensive guards on the planet, and paired next to Ben Simmons and Josh Richardson, could help Philadelphia lock all windows and doors on the perimeter. On offense, he’s a talented playmaker in the halfcourt and a good enough shooter to make do.
This is a dark horse possibility worth monitoring. Holiday is both a magnificent person and a magnificent player. He remains one of the NBA’s most underrated talents. And, at 30, he’s probably looking to contend. A Philadelphia reunion can help him do so.
If Sacramento decides to trade Buddy Hield on the eve of his contract extension, the Sixers should make a hard push. Hield is entering his prime, has four manageable years on his contract, and fills a ton of holes in the starting five.
The obvious appeal with Hield is his shooting. He’s one of the best volume shooters in basketball, drilling 39.4 percent of his 9.7 attempts per game from deep last season. His range extends well beyond the 3-point line, defenses are hardwired to respect him, and he instantly loosens the floor for Embiid and Simmons.
Hield also brings tremendous value as a shot creator. He can generate points off the dribble, something the Sixers need more of. He’s not a point guard, but he’s a gifted isolation scorer who can help generate offense late in games, even if tunnel vision is a problem from time to time.
Philadelphia also gets Harrison Barnes. Not the best contract, but when you’re able to shed the Harris atrocity, a few years of Hield and Barnes is financial heaven. The Sixers would still have a sky-high tax bill, but the roster makes more sense and, in a vacuum, both Hield and Barnes are more tradeable than Harris.
You lose Richardson, which hurts the defense, but the Kings make this trade with hopes of competing, and Richardson is a quality replacement for Hield on the wing. Harris becomes the No. 1 option next to De’Aaron Fox, and Richardson gets more freedom to do what he does best as a slasher.
This is not the most exciting deal on this list, but frankly, the Sixers will need to work hard to make any Harris or Horford trade happen. The Kings are probably the most gullible front office in basketball, regardless of whether Vlade Divac is in charge or not. Maybe they take a swing.