If better luck in the health department awaits them, the Philadelphia 76ers should have a very strong chance of surprising a lot of people in the upcoming season. After all, they still boast one of the most loaded rosters in the league, at least from a raw talent standpoint, and the Eastern Conference is widely viewed as an open race for 2025-26.
Yet the 76ers cannot be content with what the currently have in store. They have some imbalance going on, and they still have a need for better and more reliable three-point shooting and consistent defense, especially on the perimeter. If the opportunity for an upgrade arises, the front office should not hesitate to pull the trigger.
On that note, Philly can zoom in on the forward position if they want an upgrade. While the front office loaded up therein after allowing Guerschon Yabusele to walk away for nothing in free agency, the new faces they brought in are not exactly proven players.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is currently the more entrenched role player who can play both forward positions, but the 76ers are already looking to move his deal. Hence, it is probably safe to say that he is the most likely to get traded in the middle of the season.
The 76ers should swap Kelly Oubre Jr. for Haywood Highsmith
One player the 76ers should target is Haywood Highsmith, who saw himself get shipped to Brooklyn from Miami this offseason. The Nets, who are clearly not looking to win a lot of games in the upcoming campaign, so getting him should not take a lot.
Unless the Nets buy him out, their front office will exhaust all means to extract some value out of him. The 76ers, in dire need of a defensive-minded forward like Highsmith who is not a liability beyond the three-point line, should seriously consider offering something on the table to potentially snag his services.
The 76ers can offer Oubre and attach a second-rounder or two in order to pry Highsmith away from the Nets. He is on an expiring deal, and while he can project to be a mere rental, he should not be costly to keep anyway.
Should the team’s defensive issues persist next season, the 76ers should strongly knock on the Nets’ doors to possibly get Highsmith for cheap. Otherwise, they will be left reeling, relying on inconsistent defenders to get the job done on that crucial end.