The Philadelphia 76ers somehow stand to benefit in the aftermath of the Coby White trade — a deal they have nothing to do with.
With the trade deadline coming up, teams are starting to make a flurry of moves in the trade market. However, the 76ers seem to still be taking their time — that is, if they even intend to move the needle and make a deal to beat the annual buzzer.
For now, it is probably safe to say that the 76ers will not be eyeing a major splash before the February 5 deadline. That is perfectly fine, especially since the recent shake-ups may have just gifted the front office a brand new buyout target to keep an eye on when the smoke clears and the player movement bonanza gets a full stop. Remember Mike Conley? Well, Philly’s brain trust ought to have him on their radar now.
The 76ers could target Mike Conley in the buyout market
With Minnesota angling for a potential blockbuster deal (which may or may not include Giannis), they parted ways with Conley in a three-team deal. Not long after, the Bulls shipped the veteran guard to the Hornets alongside White, and it is easy to make the call that he will end up not logging a single minute in Charlotte.
Conley, who is a near-lock to find himself in the buyout market, is someone the 76ers front office should be on the lookout for. While there are more pressing needs for Philly right now, a veteran guard who can actually still play in spurts and provide proven playmaking and three-point shooting would easily be a savvy addition to their third unit.
So far, Philly has been content with Kyle Lowry serving as a quasi-assistant coach, which is fine. However, having Eric Gordon continues to baffle everyone, and the 76ers would obviously be better off installing Conley to man that emergency role.
At this point in his career, Conley will prioritized getting into a team with title aspirations. The 76ers may not have a sterling record at the moment, but they do have the talent necessary to make a deep playoff run and even force their way into the title race.
Conley is no longer someone who can elevate a team’s ceiling, but he is still a good piece to have as a beacon of stability. As such, the 76ers should come knocking on his doors the moment he becomes available for easy taking.