Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but the Philadelphia 76ers should perhaps refrain from doing anything of the sorts this offseason.
After a long pause, the first major deal of the offseason was finally unwrapped recently when the Magic made a huge swing for Grizzlies star Desmond Bane, paying a hefty premium in return. The blockbuster trade definitely sent shockwaves around the league due to the exorbitant amount of assets Orlando parted with to acquire the swingman.
Now, fans are in a frenzy trying to figure out who could be next. The Bane trade certainly left a huge impression on NBA front offices, and apparently, it has caused some out-of-nowhere takes to spout out of nowhere.
A slew of those takes actually involve the 76ers. Some fans (are they really?) have floated around the idea of the front office gauging just how much they could extract out of someone like Tyrese Maxey in light of the absolute haul the Grizzlies got for Bane, who is easily an inferior player.
The sudden discourse around Tyrese Maxey simply makes no sense for the 76ers
The thought of what Maxey is worth in the trade market admittedly merits some daydreaming, but only strictly internally. Put simply, the 76ers have absolutely zero reason to act on such an intrusive thought.
Maxey, for those who urgently need a lobotomy, is one of the absolute best scorers in the league while being under 25. This season, his efficiency took a hit thanks to the complete lack of lineup stability, but there is no denying that he is the present and future of the franchise.
Just last season, he was named to his first All-Star appearance and subsequently won the Most Improved Player award. All signs point to him still just scratching the surface of what he is capable of doing at his peak, and moving on from him is pure nonsense.
In truth, this dangerous narrative is simply reactionary. You don’t jump off the cliff simply because another person did and somwhow managed to land on a soft cushion. The circumstances surrounding the massive Desmond Bane trade were exclusive to the teams involved, and the 76ers are obviously operating under a wildly different context.
Moving forward, the Philadelphia 76ers will inevitably test the waters on how much they could milk out of their current players, but with Tyrese Maxey, such a venture should only be willingly taken up when all else fails. It is that simple.