The Philadelphia 76ers became the laughingstock of the NBA this season, especially when they seemingly found themselves in an endless freefall to start the new calendar year. However, as random as it may sound, the squad has reeled in four straight wins heading into their game against the Nuggets — a wildly surprising development for a team still hobbled by injuries.
Thanks to this win streak and the overall top-heaviness of the Eastern Conference, the 76ers are still pretty much in play for a playoff spot. Despite being eight games below .500, they are in a virtual deadlock with the Chicago Bulls for 10th place, the final play-in tournament spot, and are somehow only four games behind the Miami Heat, holders of the sixth seed and the last guaranteed playoff spot.
With the trade deadline inching closer, the strategy for the 76ers front office remain an elusive one to predict. Given their recent stretch, there is some credence to trying to improve their prospects this season through roster upgrades. On the flip side, they can only climb so much and they could be better off leveraging their assets to snag new and better ones.
Caleb Martin rumored to be getting heavy interest for the 76ers before the trade deadline
One player who is now rumored to be the subject of phone calls is Caleb Martin. According to Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, multiple playoff contenders have already called the 76ers brass to inquire about the forward.
Martin, whom Philly managed to snag for chump change in free agency, started the season off incredibly slow, almost getting himself demoted to a minor role due to his horrid shooting. But since then, he has quietly turned his season around, posting similar stats and shooting splits from during his time in Miami.
Versatile and switchable wings are major selling points for teams, and Martin certainly tout a skill set that would be valued by many ball clubs, especially those in the playoff loop. While no offensive savant, he does all things well, and has a penchant for playing big during key moments and matchups.
It remains to be seen whether the 76ers would be amenable to dangling Martin away given his return to stability, but depending on the offer, a desperate team out there could be willing to overpay for his services.
If so, the Philadelphia 76ers can and should pounce. Luckily, they do have leverage as they are not desperate to trade Caleb Martin away given his contract and on-court utility.