Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey is untouchable in trade talks

The Philadelphia 76ers entered this season with really only one player who could be considered as untradable in All-Star big man Joel Embiid. Yet, as the season progresses, it’s hard to deny that the Sixers should have another player added to that list with Embiid.

No, it’s not the disgruntled Ben Simmons or the overpaid Tobias Harris. If the 76ers can make a good trade involving either one of these players, they should. It’s actually second-year point guard Tyrese Maxey.

Maxey should be untouchable in any Philadelphia 76ers trade talks.

This appears like a hot take at first glance, but when analyzed more, it’s logical. Let’s first take a look at Maxey who has been filling in as the starting point guard with Simmons not playing. The second-year guard is averaging 16.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, while making 47.3 percent of his field goals and 38.0 percent of his 3-pointers.

Maxey has played at an All-Star level when Embiid has been out this year and is starting to learn how to play with the All-NBA center as well. Maxey is looking like a steal from the 2020 NBA Draft and shouldn’t be player-traded lightly.

Besides being the only true point guard on the active roster, Maxey’s potential to become an All-Star should make it hard for the Sixers to trade him. His play this season has already made trading for another starting-level point guard unnecessary.

In fact, there are only a handful of point guards that Maxey should be considered as a trade candidate for in Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, Ja Morant, and LaMelo Ball. Curry, Morant, Paul, and Ball aren’t realistic options as all are cornerstones of playoff teams. Irving is a player that most front offices should stay away from due to his unpredictability and Lillard seems deadset on staying with the Portland Trail Blazers so he’s off the table for now as well.

If the Sixers try to trade for a non-point guard like Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, or Jaylen Brown, then keeping Maxey only makes sense. While other teams might want Maxey there are no realistic trade scenarios in which it makes sense to trade Maxey, unless Lillard asks out of Porltand and then that’s an tough pill to swallow.

Lillard is 31-years-old point guard who has taken a step back in his shooting this season. At this point, the 76ers front office would have to weigh the pros and cons of Lillard’s immediate impact versus Maxey’s long-term potential.

There’s no relistic trade where it would make sense for the Philadelphia 76ers to have Maxey as a trade piece in talks. Depending on who becomes available that might change, but it seems as of now that Maxey should be untouchable in trade talks.