Grade the Trade: 76ers land widely coveted point guard in proposed upgrade

Why the 76ers should steer clear of Tyus Jones

Washington may not have any lofty plans this season, but their front office is looking into liquidating most of their non-core players before the trade deadline. And as reported, the Wizards have set a relatively steep price for some of their players, most especially Tyus Jones, who’s expected to command quite the lengthy list of suitors.

In fact, in anticipation of what it could take to bid for his services, the 76ers are already rumored to be sidestepping. Giving up first-round picks is a huge no-no for Philadelphia’s brass at this juncture, which is understandable given their desire to maximize flexibility ahead of free agency this summer.

For a player on an expiring deal like Jones, flipping a first-rounder will always be risky. After all, he’s still a role player at the core, and a bona fide flight risk at that who is unlikely to be retained beyond this season.

At that price, Philly may be better off haggling for other players with more staying power and ceiling-raising ability without huge cap repercussions, such as Dejounte Murray. Alternatively, staying put and setting up for better options in the near future is definitely not a bad idea.

Grade: B-