The Philadelphia 76ers have built one of the most talented teams in recent memory. But talented doesn’t always mean perfect. And the Sixers need to keep some room for potential improvements throughout the course of the season. Luckily for them, the Kawhi Leonard situation with the LA Clippers could open the door for a potential trade.
Philly doesn’t have great backup center depth behind Joel Embiid. Brook Lopez is entering his final few years in the league, but he’s still a quality backup. If the Sixers get to the deadline in February and realize that they do, in fact, need more depth at the center spot, he could be a perfect guy for them to target if things pan out the right way.
Perhaps the Clippers would rather target a younger or more mobile player, but Lopez would still be a decent trade target. And the Leonard situation could make LA more willing to sell.
Kawhi Leonard situation could make Brook Lopez a 76ers trade target
Lopez is 38 years old. He’s certainly not the most athletic, and he’s definitely not the player he once was – the All-Defensive big man who helped the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA Championship.
But in the right situation, Lopez still has all the tools to help a team win, especially if he were able to play the backup role. That’s exactly what he would be able to do in Philadelphia.
Last year, Lopez appeared in 75 games for the Clippers – still a good number for a player his age – and gave LA 21.8 minutes per contest. And considering he’d be playing behind Embiid, that would be ideal.
Plus, Lopez would be playing alongside a ton of creators. LeBron James is an elite playmaker. Tyrese Maxey can create. Having Lopez’s floor-spacing behind the three-point line would really stretch out defenses.
The problem is, Lopez is set to make $9.2 million this upcoming season. That means the 76ers would have to trade Anfernee Simons and a minimum-contract player in the deal.
So, by the deadline, the Sixers will have to decide what’s more valuable – Simons’ additional shot creation or Lopez’s ability to back up Embiid at the five spot.
LA should be relatively open for business. The Clippers need picks. They just lost five firsts in the Leonard scandal, and replenishing their draft cabinet (with firsts or seconds) should be a top priority.
The point is, Lopez could be a very interesting option for the Sixers to consider.
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