The Philadelphia 76ers will be entering the 2024-25 season with a world of expectations levied on them. Following their series of very impressive moves this summer, they will be on a pressure cooker all year long. While a bad thing for some, this is simply a testament to the team’s overall talent and ceiling as a legitimate championship contender.
But with a front office and a team president in Daryl Morey known to never settle, the 76ers are extremely likely to make some moves during the regular season, especially before the trade deadline. Here are the three most likely players from the team who could be traded in the middle of their campaign.
Three 76ers who could be traded during the 2024-25 season
3. Kelly Oubre Jr.
That Philadelphia managed to retain Kelly Oubre Jr. to a very modest two-year, $16.37 million deal was one of the better understated moves in all of free agency. Coming off a prove-it deal last season, the 28-year old quickly found himself as a key player for the team and was fortunately rewarded with another go-round with the franchise.
Having said that, there’s definitely a scenario where Oubre fails to reprise his role as a sparkplug scorer and willing defender last season. He’s shown problems settling for a background role in the past, and while that’s unlikely after his showing in 2023-24, the 76ers could certainly gun for an upgrade at the position, especially defensively.
There’s also the added factor of Oubre luring in some potential buyers. He’s on a very cost-friednly deal and has a win-now skill set whom playoff contenders would love to have aboard. If he sees his role become reduced this time around, a mid-year break-up is not out of the window.
Three 76ers who could be traded during the 2024-25 season
2. Eric Gordon
Signing Eric Gordon to a one-year, minimum deal was basically harmless, but only because it cost the 76ers chump change to do so. In reality, Daryl Morey just wanted to bring a cheap replacement for Buddy Hield, no matter how effective that player is.
Unfortunately, Gordon is easily a shell of his former self. Save for his volume three-point shooting, he offers little elsewhere at this point in his career. His one-on-one defense has drastically declined, and his erstwhile underrated driving game has taken a step back as he aged, being exclusively a spot-up shooter at present.
The 35-year-old wing is an early candidate to eventually be usurped in the rotation by someone younger, like Ricky Council IV or Jared McCain. If so, Philly could definitely flip him via trade or waive him outright to give him a chance to sign with another team via buyout.
Three 76ers who could be traded during the 2024-25 season
1. KJ Martin
KJ Martin has an afterthought last season. He averaged 12.3 minutes a night after coming over from the LA Clippers in the James Harden deal, essentially serving as Nick Nurse’ last option at forward. The clear-cut expectation was that the 76ers would not even bat an eye trying to re-sign him in free agency.
Lo and behold, Philadelphia shocked everybody by inking him to a two-year, $16 million deal. While a tremendous overpay at face value, Morey and company certainly operated under a different strategic license, hoping that the team can use his deal as a salary-matcher to trade for a player making north of $10 million.
That is yet to materialize as of writing (he’s ineligible to be traded until December 15), but the 76ers are clearly active trying to dangle Martin (along with pot sweeteners) to lure in a rotation-caliber player. As the team becomes more aggressive in offering assets and more desperate building a foolproof contender, bank on Martin wearing a different colorway before the trade deadline.