The Philadelphia 76ers have customarily been one of the more active players in the trade market, especially since Daryl Morey took the helm as club president. However, they have been relatively quiet as of late, although a mild, yet telling rumor finally broke their silence on the market, casting light on what they are plotting before the deadline.
As reported by NBA insider Jake Fischer in his latest piece (subscription required), the 76ers have had discussions with the Grizzlies brass on a potential trade a few weeks ago, although talks did not revolve around All-Star guard Ja Morant at all. Still, this revelation strongly hints at what the front office actually intends to do before the deadline.
Philly is still in the middle of the pack in the playoff picture out East, which only signifies that their path to a Finals appearance is still hazy, if not murky. Their sheer talent gives them a lofty ceiling as a collective, but rotation upgrades will be necessary for them to elevate their floor. Thankfully, it seems like the front office is trying to do that exactly.
The 76ers are apparently looking to improve the roster on the margins via the trade market
Fischer noted that talks between the 76ers and Grizzlies zoomed in on potential deals around the margins, which points to the former looking to bolster the rotation by targeting role players. This seems to be the direction they are taking before the deadline, and it cannot be any more timely.
Between the likes of Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia has a few solid players who can be intriguing enough for Memphis, which is currently fighting for its life in the West. Even better, they are all on expiring deals, which macerates the attendant risk in moving the needle for any of them.
Of course, the 76ers are not just limited to those players as their prime trade candidates. Jared McCain, for example, could be used to lure in a high-end role player when his contract is consolidated with the aforesaid players. They are also not lacking in draft picks, which helps them become a real force to snag players on teams looking to conduct a fire sale.
The Philadelphia 76ers almost always has a raw talent advantage on a nightly basis, so it is only proper that the front office intends to pair their core guys with role players who can fit them better. Hopefully, they can get the job done and manage to bring in a new cog or two who can make life easier for their main contributors.