The Philadelphia 76ers are still very much in the running for a top-six finish in the regular season for a guaranteed playoff spot. While a lot of uncertainty shrouds their campaign right now, fans still have a lot to look forward to with their star players slated to return sooner than later. That, however, will not preclude the front office from drafting what they plan on doing this summer.
On the trade front, the 76ers have some options up their sleeve. One player who has been floated around as a viable trade target for them is Houston’s Tari Eason, although his status as an impending restricted free agenct complicates things. Still, there is a way to acquire him in a deal. But in all honesty, should Philly’s brain trust even have him in mind? The answer now teeters heavily on a “no.”
Eason has looked great for the most part this season, even getting a full-time promotion to the Rockets’ starting five. However, he has hit a massive roadblock since last month, fully failing to be a factor on the offensive end. As such, head coach Ime Udoka has already made the move to demote him to the second unit once more.
The 76ers are seeing a huge red flag behind Tari Eason
Eason’s primary skill is his defensive acuity. He is one of the better one-on-one defenders in the league, and his ranginess and size offers a lot of malleability on that end. But as everyone knows, that is far from enough in the modern NBA.
The 24-year-old is still registering a 37.3 percent shooting clip from downtown, but that does not paint the real story. He has draind just a hair above 22 percent from three-point land sine February started. And as a showing of just how bleak things currently are, he has made just one of his 28 attempts from rainbow country in March. That is not a typo.
Eason is already not an offensive creator, so he is not someone who can create advantages on that end. That he is capable of being such a huge liability on offense is a big warning against going after him, and the 76ers better take not.
Philly has some more secure options on their end, such as re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr. (if the price is right). Hence, given that chasing Eason figures to be a costly escapade anyway, the 76ers might be better off not even looking his way anymore.