The trade deadline is almost here, which means that the Philadelphia 76ers no longer have the luxury of time when it comes to charting the trade market. The front office has to move fast if they want to beat the buzzer and get a deal done, although they have already fired one off when they shipped Jared McCain to OKC.
Having said that, the 76ers cannot afford to just let the deadline pass without another move. Filling McCain's void will be highly important for the team, and one ideal candidate they could install in his stead is Tyus Jones, who was somehow traded in a deal people largely overlooked amid the flurry of trades.
Orlando jettisoned Jones to Charlotte, largely to save money. The veteran floor general has not been as good as hoped for the Magic, yet it is also difficult to envision him making the worm turn in his new team. The Hornets do not really have another room in their rotation for another point guard after acquiring Coby White, so it is safe to say that he is probably still on the trading block. Fortunately for him, the 76ers should be a good fit for his game.
The 76ers should trade for Tyus Jones before the deadline
McCain was not really a pendulum-swinger for the 76ers this season, but his absence leaves a considerable void off the bench for another backcourt cog. Some playmaking boost is highly needed, so Jones is someone the front office should keep an eye on with the deadline almost here.
Jones' auxiliary scoring has basically evaporated into thin air this season, but he remains an uber-efficient ball handler and playmaker. He has long led the league in assist-to-turnover ration, a trait he has kept despite his subpar stint in Orlando.
Philadelphia is not a team that necessarily relies much on structured offense thanks to their litany of highly capable individual scorers, but having someone who can organize them in the halfcourt would add an element of stability to their scoring attack. Jones in particular,should be able to relieve, say, Quentin Grimes, from having to make a lot of decisions with the rock. That dynamic shift would allow him to focus on scoring the basketball.
If the 76ers do not plan on a major splash before the deadline, moving the needle for someone like Tyus Jones would be a good idea. The benefits of adding him are crystal clear, so the front office should definitely have him on their whiteboard.