Sixers: 2 possible Collin Sexton trade scenarios

The Philadelphia 76ers are a contender on paper — third best record in the NBA, top seed in the East, and a bonafide superstar in Joel Embiid. That said, another second-round flameout has left the fandom impatient. If the Sixers cannot improve meaningfully this summer, then people will start to worry about Joel Embiid’s future in Philly.

Everyone in the greater Philadelphia area has popped Ben Simmons in the ol’ trade machine in recent weeks. While Morey is expected to exercise patience, and there’s a good chance Simmons is back with the team next season, a trade does feel inevitable. There’s still a market for the 24-year-old. At some point, the Sixers may have to cut their losses and prioritize a more traditional point guard to help Embiid down the stretch of games.

Another trade machine favorite these days is Collin Sexton, who is in line for a large extension. Cleveland seemingly wants to move in a different direction, with Darius Garland and the forthcoming No. 3 pick as franchise cornerstones.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are openly shopping Collin Sexton. Are the Sixers a logical destination?

The question is, naturally, should the Sixers get involved? The easy answer is yes, of course. To not get involved is malpractice. Sexton is only making $6.3 million in 2021-22, and last season, he averaged an efficient 24.3 points per game as the focal point of Cleveland’s offense.

That said, color me skeptical of Sexton as the main return in a Ben Simmons trade. The hypothetical of swapping Simmons for Sexton and Kevin Love has been thrown around a lot lately. The Sixers would laugh Cleveland off the phone. Love is a bad contract and a borderline poor fit, while Sexton’s value is diminished considerably by that looming max (or near-max) extension.

Here are some more reasonable paths to getting Sexton in a Sixers uniform.