Grade the Trade: 76ers land new franchise centerpiece in wild proposal

Will Chet Holmgren be enough for the 76ers to rebuild and move on from the Joel Embiid era?

Holmgren, the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is now healthy after missing the entirety of last season due to a Lipsfranc injury in his foot. He is now expected to be one of Oklahoma City’s cornerstones in their youth movement as they actively build around SGA.

At 7’1, Holmgren is a nifty center with a solid, efficient inside game with impressive versatility as he can also play the role of floor spacer with his soft touch in the perimeter. Despite his still-lanky build, he projects as one of the league’s most intriguing prospects due to his sheer skill and potential. Hence, it’s easy to see the 76ers putting a laser on him should they pivot to a rebuild.

A pairing of Holmgren and Maxey to kickstart a rebuild is an interesting option for sure. Sweetening the pot for Philly with three future first-round draft picks over the next three years will give the front office more than sufficient incentive to play the long game and see where it gets them when some of the powerhouses in the league start to decline.

Isaiah Joe and the future second-rounders are also nice additives to this return package. To wit, if this proposal materializes, it should actually turn out to be a nice baseline that will give the Sixers front office an idea of Embiid’s price tag.