Philadelphia 76ers potential 3-team trade for Brandon Ingram

Potential 3-team trade for Ingram: Sixers’ perspective

More from The Sixer Sense

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell

I certainly want Lillard to be on the Sixers, but if the Pelicans can make a push for the elite point guard, then they have more attractive trade pieces like Christopher Kline pointed out on The Sixer Sense Podcast. With that in mind, the Sixers could still get in on this deal as a third team.

Getting Ingram isn’t a bad consolation if Lillard gets traded elsewhere. Ingram is a great three-level scorer. He’s clutch, he can create for himself and others as a secondary playmaker. He’s not a great defender, but his length makes his problem on that end despite his thin frame. He’s a guy that Philly can turn to late in a game to get a bucket and that’s something that the Sixers need.

They lose Simmons but replace him with an elite defender in Covington. The former Sixers diamond in the rough is an elite defender who can stretch the floor at either forward position. Covington is a top-15 defender so it’s not a bad trade-off in that regard. Covington would be a legit sixth man for Philly. Also getting a first round pick in 2025 is a solid haul for Simmons.

The down part to this deal is that the Sixers lose a lot of guard depth, but in a way, it’s good because that means the Sixers will go all in to embrace Tyrese Maxey as the point guard of the future. I’ve already written that he could be the team’s starting point guard moving forward and this trade forces that to happen sooner rather than later.

The Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers all benefit from this hypothetical trade. It’s something that all teams should consider if it becomes an option.