With the trade season in full swing, the Philadelphia 76ers now face much steeper competition for them to snag their desired targets. Just recently, what was initially thought of as a viable route to obtain a long-rumored target has been immediately shut down thanks to a brand new contract extension.
While the 76ers missed out on another sterling player they have been eyeing for quite some time now, the trade market remains ample both quality and quantity-wise. Add that to the fact that there are more teams projected to play the role of seller in the market, Philly should not have any shortages of options moving forward.
The franchise has made a bold commitment to winning that their sheer lack of success so far this season should not preclude the front ofice from further aggrandizing their cause. Part and parcel of that, of course, is continuing to be on the lookout for the next best player who’s available for taking in the open market.
One way the Philadelphia 76ers could trade for forward Kyle Kuzma
One player who has been a hot commodity in the rumor mill as of late is Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma. Already a prime trade candidate dating back to last season when he almost found himself getting dangled away to Dallas, he has once again reprised that role this time around as a wanted piece for a bunch of teams.
The 76ers have not been involved in any man-made or natural link to Kuzma, but they do have one trade framework that could hold water, just like this self-baked one.
In all reality, this is perhaps the lone, realistic way for the 76ers to get their hands on Kuzma. Philadelphia has been on the receiving end of mediocre performances from Kelly Oubre and Caleb Martin all season long, while KJ Martin remains a tricky fit for the team given his skill set. Clearly, Kuzma would be a notch above all three.
Washington may be satisfied just parting with Kuzma, though they are not unlikely to demand draft compensation of some sorts in return. Even so there is some intrigue to trading for someone like Kuzma, a proven floor-raiser who can function as a secondary scorer and an all-around forward thanks to his size and ranginess.
Having said that, it would be counterintuitive to flip three players, all of whom are forwards, just for an “upgrade” at forward. The 76ers are already lacking bodies at the position, and trading three for one (or one-and-a-half, counting for Anthony Gill) is certainly a step forward, and two steps back.
For that reason, the Philadelphia 76ers should avoid trading for Kyle Kuzma. Unless there is another viable pathway out there that does not involve the team sapping all of its depth at a very important position, such a move would be a hard sell for nearly everyone involved.