After weeks of speculation and guesswork, the Giannis trade rumor mill has gone completely quiet. With the two-time MVP still sidelined due to a rather untimely calf injury, the Bucks have immensely struggled, which only fuels the expectation that the superstar will eventually get traded sooner than later.
The Philadelphia 76ers are not one of the teams included in the list of his rumored preferred destinations. There has been little to no buzz about Philly registering legitimate interest in moving the needle for Giannis and vice-versa. At most, the only linkage which both camps tout at most are mere prognostications about how the 76ers actually make a lot of sense for him as a landing spot.
True enough, the 76ers actually have the means to put together a pretty enticing trade package for Giannis. And with some teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Rockets reported to have already abandoned the prospect of breaking the bank to nab him, Philadelphia could even end up being a prime suitor for the superstar if they do enter the sweepstakes.
The 76ers could put together a potent trade package for Giannis
The 76ers will probably never do this, but they do have a pretty attractive young commodity to potentially lure the Bucks and Giannis in — VJ Edgecombe. One of the best rookies so far this season, he has already turned a lot of heads with his fearless and explosive game.
Of course, you don’t just trade those kinds of prospects. However, this is Daryl Morey we are talking about — a man who would not rule out the possibility of dealing the up-and-coming guard for an MVP-caliber player in Antetokounmpo.
Alternatively, the 76ers can conjure a draft pick-heavy package for the Bucks. They do own the Clippers’ two first-round picks in 2028 and 2029, and given LA’s status at present, those are bound to very high picks. Those are undoubtedly some of the most highly sought-after draft assets in the NBA.
The 76ers, of course, are no lame ducks when it comes to wheeling and dealing in the trade market. They have been better than most teams in the league when it comes to the transaction tables. As such, given their varied assets, they definitely have what it takes to make the rest of the league tremble in a prospective bidding war for Giannis.
The question is, will they enter the fray? For now, the answer seems to be a quiet no, but they do have the means to swiftly deviate from that status quo.