Grade the Trade: 76ers steal underrated big man from West powerhouse

But is Aldama worth the price of admission for the 76ers?

Notwithstanding the merits of bringing Aldama into the fold, the resounding truth is that he is definitely not what the 76ers truly need for a role player they are paying two second-round picks for. Aldama is more of an oversized wing than a malleable center, and that could ultimately be the pendulum swinger in determining whether or not he’s worth the price of admission.

At this juncture, it would make more sense for Philly to exhaust their flippable assets, like second-round picks, for a more secure commodity. That could be in the form of a higher-end role player like, well, Kelly Olynyk or other big men who definitely profile as such. Preserving second-rounders as pot sweeteners for more desirable players is also more reasonable.

Aldama also isn’t spotless. While projected as a floor-spacing big, his career-best rate of 35.3 percent shooting from downtown doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence for a designated space-generator. While he has the size to play center, his rebounding is pretty average at best, and he’s not particularly difficult to shove around for opposing big men.

Ultimately, though, Aldama is still just 23 years old, so his best years should be ahead of him. While his on-court cons can be pretty stark and the 76ers have more pressing needs, the Spaniard could be a worthwhile investment for both the present and the foreseeable future.

Grade: B+