The NBA is about to open its doors for the trade season, which is slated to commence in just a few days with most trade restrictions getting lifted. And with the Philadelphia 76ers needing to cover a lot of ground to catch up to their competition, you can bet on the squad being a key player on the market as they always have in the past.
While the 76ers are finally starting to get a cleaner bill of health, injuries are far from the only thing keeping them from mounting a successful campaign so far. Even in the aftermath of the biggest free agency bonanza in the offseason, Philly is still hoarded with holes on the roster — their roster imbalance becoming more glaring with each passing loss.
The normally safe bet is to peg the team as a buyer given the circumstances, but there is also credence to the 76ers posturing to become a potential seller before the trade deadline. Their window to win the championship this season is admittedly way too slim for an even more drastic all-in approach, and despite their disappointing start, they are not necessarily bereft of players whom other teams could find attractive enough to pursue in trades.
The 76ers are not looking to trade Guerschon Yabusele
One player in particular who has exceeded all expectations for the 76ers this season is Guerschon Yabusele, whom the front office managed to snag for a menial one-year deal shortly before their campaign began.
Despite a long absence from NBA action, Yabusele has proven that his exceptional stint in Europe, especially during the 2024 Summer Olympics, was not a fluke. Averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and a couple of dimes per outing on 49.1 percent shooting from the field, including a team-best 39.5 percent conversion rate from behind the arc, the Frenchman has emerged as one of Nick Nurse’s most trusted players and a rotation staple.
Now, why would the 76ers even consider dealing Yabusele? Well, they are not really in an ideal position to retain him beyond this season due to how limited they would be in inking him to a bigger deal. However, the front office seems willing to bypass that risk and keep him off the trade market.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Philadelphia currently has no plans to make Yabusele available in trade talks, doubling down on his ability to help the 76ers get out of their early hole.
Asking us, more specifically, if the Sixers' 6-15 start could put Yabusele on the trade market between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline. All current signs point to a resounding no. The Sixers, for starters, awoke Sunday only 2 1/2 games out of the Play-In Tournament in the ever-forgiving Leastern Conference. Why would Philly even consider parting with a player who has been so productive on a minimum deal when they are only five games out of the No. 6 seed?
Given how snug of a fit Yabusele has looked next to the team’s stars, no one can really blame the Philadelphia 76ers for wanting to retain him — it is only proper. In a campaign in want of bright spots, he has been a constant positive, and taking on a defeatist stance by trading him to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing later on would be pretty counterintuitive given their current disposition.