The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a slow start this season, although this sluggish kickstart is not entirely a big shocker. Injuries to both Joel Embiid and Paul George have prevented them from trotting out their full deck, and a tough schedule to begin their campaign has not helped, either. The result is a 1-4 slate through five games, good for a meager 14th in the East.
Sooner than later, it would be imperative for the 76ers to ctach up, especially with the Eastern Conference hosting a very tight race thanks to some new up-and-comers. And while the newsstands are currently preoccuiped with some other spicy headlines, the front office cannot simply wait for the lowest-hanging fruit. They must create the opportunity themselves.
Of course, the trade market will always be an active one, though it is pretty dormant as of the moment. Nonetheless, here are three potential trade targets the 76ers should start monitoring right now.
3 Trade targets the 76ers should monitor right now
1. Larry Nance Jr. (Atlanta)
Few teams, if any, have a more pressing need than the 76ers when it comes to the power forward and center positions. Embiid’s continued absence has only exploited the team’s lack of size, and their rebounding struggles have become so obvious.
In account of that, Philly’s brass could shoot their shot at Larry Nance Jr., now with the Hawks. Atlanta’s cemented center rotation has made him pretty expendable, and he does not stand to command a considerable return anyway. A veteran who can play both in and out as a four or five, Nance would be a nice rotation stopgap who can fit with just about any lineup configurations.
2. Dorian Finney-Smith (Brooklyn)
Another player whom the 76ers should monitor — and they probably already did — is Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Brooklyn has shown some semblance of competitiveness in the early going, but few expect that to keep going with the franchise setting its sights on landing the jackpot in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Finney-Smith, one of the better three-and-D role players in the league for quite some time now, would be a perfect fit in Philly. He can play all frontcourt positions (yes, even as a small-ball five), does not need the ball much on offense, and is a willing three-point shooter who can actually drain them at a respectable rate. There’s little to not like about his game and hypothetical fit with the 76ers.
3. Chris Boucher (Toronto)
Another versatile big man to watch as a potential trade target for the 76ers is Toronto’s Chris Boucher. Somehow, the 31-year-old has stuck with the Raptors, though his role has waned in recent seasons. He should be ripe for a trade, especially with his expiring contract.
Boucher can be quite inconsistent, but he’s a decent role player who can thrive off the bench thanks to his offense. He can play some center and also slide down as a power forward thanks to his three-point shooting ability. As of the moment, he also does not project to be an expensive get, making him an ideal target for the 76ers.