The Philadelphia 76ers were an idle customer tonight, but they could not have possibly missed what just happened in the NBA. In arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history, the Mavericks just traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.
Initially framed as a three-team deal, the move sent shockwaves globally, with majority of fans even believing that ESPN’s Shams Charania, who first broke the news, was hacked. However, multiple outlets have since corroborated the report, and now, both superstars are on their way to their new, respective homes.
Amid all these madness, this could not possible be the last move that these teams pull off before the trade deadline. And if so, the 76ers have a massive opportunity to sneak into an untapped bidding war for one of the forgotten players caught up in the deal.
The 76ers should now trade for Lakers’ Austin Reaves
The Lakers pairing Luka with LeBron James is certainly uglier than what it seems on the surface. Both players have overlapping skill sets, and none are particularly adept defensively. But wait, are we forgetting someone here?
Well, this move could also spell the end of Austin Reaves in LA. While he has fared better this season, he is simply meaningless to have now given that Luka and LeBron will cannibalize his role moving forward.
In view of this and the fact that he is making very reasonable salary, this makes Reaves a perfect trade target for Philly. The 76ers badly need another ball-handler in the lineup, and while Reaves is an imperfect table-setter, he would instantly be one of the best playmakers on the roster should he land in Philadelphia.
Reaves is making just approximately $13.5 million per year, which would make it easy for the 76ers to match by simply consolidating some of their middle-sized contracts. Heck, if they manage to give what the Lakers want, they may not even need to shell out draft picks to sweeten the pot.
The Lakers are now completely bereft of big bodies, while the 76ers can leverage some of theirs such as Andre Drummond to kickstart discussions on a trade. Hopefully, Los Angeles would bite, although that would also depend on Philly actually registering interest on Reaves.
The trade deadline seems like it could bring in a ton of fireworks this season. Hopefully, the Philadelphia 76ers can get into the action and put the team in a better position for the now and the future.