With just four days remaining before the trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers remain in wait-and-see mode as to what the market may have in store for them. So far, they have been pretty idle even with the league having already seen not one, but two blockbuster trades finalized in less than 24 hours.
It is still unclear whether the 76ers will function as buyers or sellers on the market. After all, they do have bona fide reasons to go either way. On one end, they are still somehow within striking distance from the playoff picture and have played well as of late. On the other, they have been way too streaky this season to truly mount a legitimate playoff bid.
Nevertheless, what should dictate the front office’s strategy as they approach the deadline is to find a way to be resourceful and make full use of the options available to them. Whether that comes in the form of facilitating trades or being the main player themselves, they have to do everything in their power to make this deadline count.
The 76ers should now target PJ Tucker on the buyout market after he finally got traded
However, should Philly strike out on the trade market, they still have a way to improve the roster, and subsequently, their prospects this season as a playoff hopeful: the buyout market. While it is still a tad too early to talk about that, a recent trade just opened up a window for them to move the needle on that end.
The LA Clippers finally moved on from PJ Tucker by sending him (and Mo Bamba) to the Utah Jazz for Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks, parting with the veteran forward who has long demanded a trade out of Hollywood. While not yet retired, he has not seen NBA action for a significant amount of time.
Utah is said to be shopping him for draft compensation, but given Tucker’s lack of burn on the hardwood, it is difficult to envision any team paying that price for him. Hence, he will most likely end up on the buyout market, where he would instantly become much more appealing of a get rather than being obtainable only via trade.
The moment that happens, the 76ers should immediately jump in on Tucker, who has already played for the franchise not too long ago. While he is probably nothing more than a marginal role player at this point, his defensive acuity is still there. His ample playoff experience and leadership in the locker room should also come in handy.
The Philadelphia 76ers need more size and resistance on the defensive end, especially at the forward positions, and reuniting with PJ Tucker would certainly help them on that end, even for just depth insurance.