76ers acquire DeMar DeRozan from the Bulls in this trade proposal

Why DeMar DeRozan is the wrong star to target for the 76ers

For all the goodness that DeMar DeRozan presents, both in theory and in practice, the Philadelphia 76ers arguably do not need him. Yes, having him on the roster could improve the team’s ceiling and floor this season, but that begs the question — by how much can he really improve the team?

Make no mistake — despite the 76ers’ clear pecking order on offense, Nick Nurse has installed a much more dynamic offense with better buoyancy that maximizes skillsets and optimizes shot selection. DeRozan is an all-around stud, but to fully cater to his strengths, the ball must find him. And between Embiid and Maxey’s mutual growth as scoring and passing threats, shoehorning him into the equation could feel detrimentally forced.

Ultimately, what the 76ers truly need are multifaceted connectors and reliable defenders who can guard multiple positions — DeRozan can supply the former (albeit with the attendant and necessary inflated usage) while failing to provide a considerable semblance of the latter. And if the 76ers are breaking the bank anyway, the front office should probably go for a better option — as long as it is available.

To conclude, if a star player of the perfect or near-perfect archetype for the 76ers becomes available, they should jump on that opportunity. If not, DeRozan’s perks still outweigh his cons especially for the proposed price tag.

But can we please find a way to not trade Batum? The 76ers have other tradable contracts that are not too off-tangent from the ballpark of his contract.