With the Emirates NBA Cup finally done, the league has now returned to its regular programming, as do the Philadelphia 76ers. While the team is one of the few idle teams in everyone’s first “night” back, there is no shortage of intriguing developments around the association.
The 76ers do have good reason to take a bird’s eye view at what is going on around them, regardless of their actual involvement. Trade season has already began, and fans have every reason to believe that Philly is poised to make a move or two sooner than later given their litany of injuries and meager record.
One of the biggest areas to address for the front office is the team’s big man rotation. Joel Embiid is currently hobbled, and the 76ers have been overtaxing Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond in his place — something you don’t want to do for a team already thin at the position. Put simply, the squad needs another big body out there who can willingly absorb contact and offer more resistance.
Larry Nance Jr.’s sudden development makes him an ideal trade target for the 76ers
The 76ers have a lot of options to get around the market and pull off most trades they are eyeing, though the most realistic bet is for them to go after a role player through a direct swap with one of their moderately-sized contracts. One name in particular that should pique their interest is Larry Nance Jr., currently of the Atlanta Hawks.
While Nance has been limited to just 11 appearances for the Hawks thus far, the 10-year veteran has looked really solid for his new ball club. And despite averaging a career-low 16.5 minutes per outing, his impact has not been muted by his relative lack of court time.
Most importantly, Nance’s sudden progression as a floor spacer is noteworthy. While the sample size is small, he is taking — and draining — more three-pointers than ever. Just in their latest game against the Spurs, he converted four threes in one half, punishing a San Antonio defense comfortable leaving him wide open.
With Nance on a pretty reasonable deal, the 76ers should try to move the needle and mount an offer for the Hawks. Atlanta does not really need him with Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela on board, and the Hawks would love to get some draft picks after they traded most of their immediate ones to the Spurs.
The Philadelphia 76ers have to be more shrewd moving forward, and trading for a low-risk, high-reward role player like Larry Nance Jr. would be worth it, especially given his abrupt development as a three-point shooting big man.