The Philadelphia 76ers made the bold decision to trade Jared McCain for draft capital, but the haul of picks they got from the Oklahoma City Thunder was at least good enough to justify the painful cut. A lot of people did not understand the vision of the Sixers brain trust on this one, but if anything, this goes to show that the front office is probably eyeing a big move soon.
Having said that, before the 76ers get into whatever they are planning or brewing behind the scenes, they must first address the immediate void left by the sophomore guard. And luckily for them, the flurry of movement in the trade market just gave them the perfect name to monitor and pursue in the form of Lonzo Ball.
Cleveland just traded the former second overall pick to Utah, but ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the expectation is that the Jazz will waive him. This will allow Ball to hit the open market in the middle of the season, and the 76ers should immediately come knocking on his door for an unexpected, but purposeful partnership.
The 76ers should sign Lonzo Ball after trading Jared McCain
The 28-year-old playmaker got booted out with Cleveland having too many mouths to feed in the backcourt, especially after trading for James Harden. The move was understandable given that the Cavs have not gotten the kind of production they were hoping for when they made the move to acquire him, although the reality is that he was not on a team that can really maximize his strengths.
The 76ers badly need playmaking off the bench, and that is definitely something Ball can bring to the table. While he is not a world-beater as a floor general, he remains a highly capable table-setter with this precise passing and basketball iQ.
Aside from his skills as a point guard, Philly would also welcome his size and defensive acuity in the backcourt. The 76ers’ crew of guards needs someone willing to do the dirty work, and while his injuries have affected him to a great degree, his activity on D is still better than most of his peers at the position.
The 76ers could do much worse than take a flier on Lonzo Ball, even if only for the rest of the season. Their emergency options in the backcourt are far from inspiring, and with McCain now out of the picture, it is hard to argue against this prospective move.