Despite posting a hell of a performance against one of the best teams in the league, the Philadelphia 76ers came up a little short in their most recent outing against the Nuggets, which ultimately snapped their four-game winning streak behind Nikola Jokic’s monstrous game.
After the loss, the 76ers are now nine games below .500, though that does not change the fact that they have played very impressive basketball as of late. Still bannering an undermanned and makeshift lineup thanks to injuries, the team displayed a lot of heart and resilience on the hardwood, which bodes well for the tough playoff race moving forward.
Philly enjoyed an explosive showing from Tyrese Maxey who had 42 markers to lead both teams, but he was far from being the lone standout. Guerschon Yabusele posted 28 points and matched up well against Jokic and not to be outdone, Kelly Oubre Jr. registered 27 points to help lead the 76ers to a close tussle against Denver.
76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele rumored to be on key East rival’s trade radar
Yabusele, in particular, was huge for the 76ers against the Nuggets. That is not a one-off thing, though, as he has undeniably emerged as probably the most consistent player on the team this season.
As a result, it is far from surprising that he is receiving heavy interest on the trade market. According to Knicks reporter Ian Begley, New York is among the many teams that have inquired about the Frenchman’s availability.
Normally, it would be inconceivable to trade a standout piece like Yabusele, but the 76ers are unlikely to be able to meet his asking price in free agency, giving the idea of trading him some credence.
But having said that, given the burly forward’s strong season and perfect fit on the team, the 76ers should take a gamble and try to convince Yabusele to take a lesser offer to remain with the franchise. Heck, shipping him to a direct intraconference rival in the Knicks would make very little sense.
The 6’8” forward has been one of the best storylines all season long. Years after a premature exit from the NBA, he was able to leverage his breakout stint in Europe and in the Olympics to make a successful return to the big league. And so far, it is extremely unlikely for him to be without an NBA home moving forward.
Hopefully, the Philadelphia 76ers can remain to be that team. After all, Guerschon Yabusele has simply been a godsend for the franchise as an undeniable star in his role.