The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of decisions to make come June 25 (and 26, for those who are not aware that the draft is now two-days long). Yet the most important question they need to resolve is also the most basic one — who will they pick at No. 3?
For now, all signs point to the 76ers resorting to the most glib option out there — making an outright selection. A lot of mock drafts have them selecting either Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe, and despite their respective flaws, their high ceilings are more than enough to brand the 76ers as winners no matter whom they go with.
Still, the 76ers are also strongly believed to be considering trading their own pick come draft night. After all, a trade for an established, proven commodity makes equal sense given the timeline of their nucleus, although it obviously affects the way they build the roster with the future in mind.
However, a deal for a certain player they were linked to recently will actually fix one of their biggest issues for quite some time now.
Trading for Lauri Markkanen will fix a huge woe for the 76ers
Lauri Markkanen (as well as Kevin Durant, prior to a rumored withdrawal in that respect) was recently tossed as a name to look out for the 76ers should they pursue a draft day trade.
Most inferences have Utah packaging the All-Star with their No. 5 pick for the 76ers to move up to No. 3, which left a bitter taste in a lot of fans. After all, moving from third to fifth, especially in this year’s draft, could spell the difference between a franchise cornerstone and a non-ceiling raiser.
However, Markkanen could actually provide the 76ers something they have not had in a long time — a legitimate big man who provide high-octane scoring from beyond the three-point line.
Despite a down year this season — largely due to the Jazz not doing anything to rack up wins — Markkanen remains an uber-flexible big man who can create his own shot, finish plays above the rim and from rainbow country, and function as a secondary playmaking hub.
The Philadelphia 76ers have long missed a towering presence next to Joel Embiid who can viably play with him. And while trading a prized asset like the No. 3 pick could be an ugly proposition, Lauri Markkanen is at least rich in green flags within the team’s dynamic — which counts for something, even if the front office ultimately decides against such a swap.