Can Philadelphia 76ers benefit from 3-team Chris Paul trade?

If the Suns want Chris Paul, can the Philadelphia 76ers jump in and make it a three-team deal?

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly engaged in Chris Paul trade discussions. While nothing is imminent, the Suns have plenty of motivation to seek major improvement. Devin Booker’s future hangs in the balance.

While it’s entirely possible that Phoenix and OKC work out a trade together, the Philadelphia 76ers should eagerly offer their services as a potential third team. If neither Phoenix nor OKC gets over the hump in two-team negotiations, Daryl Morey could unearth significant value for the Sixers.

My disclaimer, of course, is that this scenario is unlikely. Philadelphia is lacking when it comes to trade assets. If Phoenix and OKC need a third team, don’t be surprised if any number of other teams jump ahead in line.

That said, this trade could work for all sides.

This looks expensive from Philadelphia’s perspective — Thybulle, a first-round pick, and a pick swap to move off Horford’s contract. Unfortunately, it will take that kind of sacrifice to shed one of the NBA’s worst contracts. And not every hypothetical will return two quality rotation pieces.

The Sixers need to be careful about shedding too many assets, but this is addition by subtraction with Horford — not to mention the merits of both Rubio and Oubre. Also worth noting is Oubre’s expiring contract. Rubio’s expires in 2022. This helps Philadelphia on the court and financially.

Phoenix wins the main prize in Paul. While it’s risky to invest in any 36-year-old, Paul was a top-15 player last season. He can put Phoenix on the map, and he makes life much easier for both Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. It might not get Paul his championship, but the Suns are trending in a positive direction.

OKC is at the beginning of a rebuild. Horford doesn’t fit the roster, but it’s not unfeasible for the Thunder to eat salary in order to bolster its asset collection. The two-team version of this trade returns Oubre, Rubio, and the 10th pick. That’s a light return, and Phoenix may balk on offering more. In this version, they get Thybulle, an unprotected first in 2022 pick, and the potential to swap in 2024, when Philadelphia’s roster could look drastically different. That, plus the 10th pick.

It’s wholly possible for OKC to accept Phoenix’s package, invest in Oubre’s future, and try to flip Rubio for another pick. That said, Thybulle is the definitive OKC prospect — a long, rangy athlete who can defend the crap out of the ball — and Philadelphia’s picks could increase in value if Joel Embiid and/or Ben Simmons want out in the coming years. Maybe Horford can even rehab his trade value.

Philadelphia could also sweeten the pot with second-round picks, of which they have five in the upcoming NBA Draft. This, in the end, will hinge largely on OKC’s rebuild preferences. The Suns are happy to get Chris Paul regardless. If Phoenix is willing to throw Cameron Johnson or other picks into the mix, however, Philadelphia might as well look elsewhere.