76ers trade for all-around scorer, upgrade their backcourt in proposed deal

Why the 76ers should trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic

Bogdan Bogdanovic is currently in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Coming off a very impressive run where he led the Nikola Jokic-less Serbia to a silver finish in the FIBA World Cup, he has continued his lights out scoring off Atlanta’s bench. He’s second among all qualified players in second-unit scoring with 16.7 points per outing in 27.4 minutes of game play.

Clearly, Bogdanovic would be an instant upgrade over anyone off Philadelphia’s bench, which ranks dead-last in scoring despite being 23rd in minutes per game. He’s an energizer bunny with his three-level scoring, but he’s also a tenable secondary playmaker, expertly attacking closeouts and running drive-and-kick actions. 

Alternatively, he is another option Nick Nurse can opt for in regards to his starting unit. While De’Anthony Melton has impressed defensively, his offense has been shaky. Sans him, the coaching staff has regularly gone to Kelly Oubre Jr., but he has cooled off after his fiery start to the season.

Bogdanovic is a realistic get. He is signed for three more seasons after the present campaign with a club option on his final year and has an appropriately rated deal that should age well, either as a player they want to retain or flip later as a trade bait. There’s minimal risk to trading for the Serbian wing, and should the Hawks agree to a return package along those lines, the 76ers should do it in a heartbeat.