NBA Rumors: Dream 76ers trade target is now off the board

Stuck in a freefall, the Philadelphia 76ers are fast approaching a pretty irreversible fate this season. As if their disastrous 2-11 start could not get any worse, recent events point to the club needing a herculean comeback as an entire unit for them to even sniff the playoffs come April.

Heck, talking about the playoffs right now given the circumstances is brazenly jumping the gun. Through 13 games, it has been pretty clear that the 76ers need so much more than just raw talent, which they already have an abundance of. Sure, they are oozing with high-caliber players, but their collective weaknesses have never been more pronounced thanks to these continuing to be neglected.

One crucial hole that has been gulping them down so far is their inherent lack of size, particularly at forward. With the 76ers constantly deploying undersized units, they have become very vulnerable, especially on the defensive end. So far, Philadelphia is in the bottom half of the league when it comes to defensive rating.

Dream 76ers trade target is now off the board

During the early going where fans and pundits were still under the aftereffects of the offseason, some people around 76ers circles have floated the idea of the team trading for Houston’s Tari Eason. Well, that has now become a moot point following the latest development on the young forward.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, the Rockets have made Eason (and Amen Thompson) untouchable in trade talks in light of Houston’s hot start in continuation of their successful campaign last season.

Eason, while still not getting as much minutes as he should, has emerged as one of the best defenders in the league. Certainly, the 76ers could have used him as someone who can help them not only in the present, but also in the immediate future.

Unfortunately, it never really made sense for the Rockets to even consider trading the young forward. That, of course, is detrimental for Philly, which is actually equipped with the necessary tools to make a move for him and entice Houston along the way.

For now, Tari Eason will remain a pipe dream for the Philadelphia 76ers. And to address their gaping hole at forward, the front office should start adopting a more proactive approach with the trade season inching closer as players start becoming available and the rumor mill begins heating up.