The Philadelphia 76ers are starting to have another pressing concern on the roster. With Kelly Oubre set to miss time due to a rather vague injury, the team has become thin again at forward. While Paul George has finally made his long-awaited debut, it does not change the fact that this team remains especially vulnerable at the forward position.
Sooner than later, the 76ers might be cudgeled into making a trade to obtain a rotation-celiber forward. No one knows how long Oubre could be out, while George will most likely take a lot of time before he fully regains his mojo. Justin Edwards has started to play well as of late, but he is still prone to displays of immaturity on the court.
One player who can actually become available for taking in the trade market is current Mavericks forward Naji Marshall. Dallas, which is currently 13th in the jam-packed Western Conference with a wildly disappointing 4-11 win-loss card thus far, could very well commence a fire sale before the trade deadline, especially with the franchise seemingly ready for a full cleanse as a culmination of their catastrophic Luka Doncic gaffe.
The 76ers should closely monitor Naji Marshall in the trade market
Sources say that Marshall is being viewed as a popular trade candidate for teams currently in the playoff picture if — or when — the Mavericks indeed make a hard pivot in the middle of the season.
Marshall, who is only 27 years old, is on a cheap contract and is signed through next season. While not much of a savant on the perimeter, he is a fine role player who can defend multiple positions and handle the ball a bit with his above-average court sense. He also does not turn the ball over much, making him a rather “safe” commodity to move the needle for.
The 76ers need a stable hand at forward, and someone like Marshall should definitely pique their interest. At 6’7”, he has good for the small forward position, which is something the team does not have an abundance of.
Philly needs to start bolstering its roster, especially at the margins. Everyone is viewing them as a shoo-in for the playoffs this time around, and if they want to make a deep run in the postseason, making the roster as foolproof as it can be will go a long way.
Even better, Marshall is someone who can help the 76ers right now and then some, making him a player to watch out for Philly before the trade deadline.