While the Philadelphia 76ers have rattled off two consecutive losses, pushing them to a four-way deadlock for second place in the Eastern Conference, no one will have any reservations about penciling the team in as a powerhouse with a legitimate shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy this season in account of what they have displayed early on.
That being said, many expect the current 76ers roster to face another facelift sooner or later. With the James Harden trade replenishing the front office’s crest of assets flippable for another deal, fans and pundits alike are united in projecting the team to be key players ahead of the trade deadline. In fact, they are already linked to Zach LaVine, who is pushing for a trade out of Chicago.
Post-Harden, the 76ers are expected to pull off another trade before the deadline
However, compared to when Harden was still unwillingly fastened to the franchise, Philadelphia can now afford to be picky in their next hunt. And considering that the team has been thriving under Nick Nurse, there’s little sense in executing a trade that would disrupt the dynamic just to satiate a desire to land a big name.
Of course, the alternative for the 76ers is to instead seek out help without breaking the bank. That means getting into the market for high-end role players or fringe All-Stars to avoid the risk of sapping their teeming financial flexibility next summer.
Fittingly, Bleacher Report recently served a trade proposal that has Philly landing a former All-Star while a certain team braces for an inevitable rebuild.