More names are becoming available in the trade market following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft, opening the lane for the Philadelphia 76ers to start zooming in on players whom they can strike a deal for as the offseason rages. One stud they should have on their radar is Isaiah Joe, who has become expendable overnight for the Thunder after their most recent draft selection.
Oklahoma City drafted Bennett Stirtz out of Iowa, who is a lethal shooter just like Joe while being more dynamic with his steady playmaking chops. That only fortifies the market prognosis that the Thunder will actively shop Joe this offseason in view of their need for more cap relief.
That is more than sufficient impetus for the 76ers to move the needle and accelerate their possible interest in dealing for the sharpshooter. He was a key piece for OKC in their championship run last year, and more importantly, he aptly fills an urgent concern for Philly as a collective, which is their lack of reliable shooting from beyond the arc.
The 76ers now have an open lane to trade for Isaiah Joe
Joe, who briefly played for the 76ers in the first two seasons of his career, has blossomed into one of the best shooters in the league. Since stepping foot in Oklahoma City, he has drained 41.5 percent of his three-point tries. He has not registered a shooting clip from downtown in his four seasons with the Thunder, displaying his sheer consistency with his shot. His defense acuity is also competent enough to stay on the floor in crucial moments.
His contract is also not too onerous as to throw the 76ers off. He is set to make $11.3 million next season, and his deal includes a team option worth the same amount for the 2027-28 campaign. There is clear optionality and flexibilit attached to his contract, and that is something which can be of use for Philly.
Even better, the Thunder will not ask for the world from any and all prospective buyers for the soon-to-be 27-year-old. They already shipped Aaron Wiggins to Atlanta for only a couple of second-rounders, so the 76ers can expect Joe to cost just as much, if not slightly more.
Reunions are more difficult to engineer than people think, but for the 76ers, doing so with Isaiah Joe just makes a lot of sense. This team desperately needs shooting, and their former player is obviously someone who can lend them a hand in that regard and then some.
