Sixers: 5 outside-the-box trade concepts
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, March 25 — mere days away. The Sixers are expected to pursue improvements to the roster, but with significant competition on the market and only a handful of trade assets, Philadelphia could have a hard time making waves.
That is, of course, assuming the top-seeded Sixers want to make waves. Doc Rivers has gone public with his approval of the roster time and time again. Daryl Morey — though he blows more smoke than Daenerys’ dragons — has also been vociferous in his praise of the lineup from top to bottom.
If the Sixers do in fact want to swing big, here are some admittedly ambitious ideas, courtesy of too much time spent in the trade machine.
Sixers help Warriors land All-Star center
SIXERS RECEIVE: Kelly Oubre Jr., James Ennis III, Khem Birch
MAGIC RECEIVE: Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Tony Bradley, Sixers 2021 first-round pick, Timberwolves 2021 second-round pick (via GSW), Warriors 2023 first-round pick (top-3 protected), Warriors 2025 first-round pick pick swap
WARRIORS RECEIVE: Nikola Vucevic, Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson
The Warriors are currently ninth in the West, primed for a spot in the play-in tournament. While Klay Thompson’s injury puts a damper on any immediate title aspirations, Golden State still has Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Getting another star in the mix would suit them.
Enter the Magic, who are sulking at the bottom of the East and trending quickly in the direction of a rebuild. Nikola Vucevic made his second All-Star appearance this season, but Orlando would be wise to sell high on the 30-year-old center. The Warriors could use a gifted floor-spacing five to balance out the offense.
In this trade, the Warriors are able to nab Vucevic while also ridding themselves of Andrew Wiggins’ bloated contract. The Magic would need plenty of incentives to take on such a contract, but two first-round picks from Golden State — in addition to a first-round pick from Philadelphia — is a good place to start. The Magic also get Jordan Poole, who has strung together some strong scoring performances in Golden State, and Tony Bradley, who can fill minutes at center.
The Sixers give up very little outside their pick — Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, and Tony Bradley, all on expiring contracts — and in return get Kelly Oubre, James Ennis, and Khem Birch. Three rotation-level pieces. Ennis would fit nicely with his former team, while Oubre could swallow minutes on the wing. Birch fills in for Bradley.
On the surface, this is a low-risk move for Philadelphia, giving up fringe pieces and a first-round pick that could land as high as 30 in the draft. Oubre has started and played well for several seasons now, and Ennis is an upgrade over Mike Scott — which Sixer fans are well aware of.