Sure, one could admit that the Philadelphia 76ers have turned in some puzzling moves in the market in recent years, but that does not mean that their front office is among the worst ones in the association. Truth be told, Daryl Morey has done the best he can since stepping foot in Philly, although his well-documented conflicts have somehow overshadowed that.
From securing huge bargain bin deals to finding gems out of almost nowhere, the 76ers have been largely successful when it comes to finding talent. Problem is, the team does not have any meaningful success to show for it, with things taking its ugliest turn yet last season when they missed the postseason entirely.
Due to their untimely misses, the 76ers will have a very difficult time moving on from their current nucleus. Aging stars who are making a ton of money, like Joel Embiid and Paul George, make it strenuous for the front office to even plot a big change, but they do not necessarily have a complete dearth of options.
Heck, with some aggressive maneuvering in the trade market, the team might even be able to pull off a trade for one of the league’s most attractive cogs.
The 76ers should try to get into the Trey Murphy III sweepstakes
Trey Murphy, who just posted his strongest campaign last season, has become one of the most highly-sought commodities in the trade market. Rumors point to the Pelicans having already gotten some calls regarding a move for the 25-year-old, although their front office, valuing him highly, has not fielded any offers just yet.
So far, teams like the Warriors and the Spurs have reportedly thrown their hats into the ring. The 76ers are not reported to register some interest in the Virginia product, but they should definitely try their chances.
Standing at 6’8”, Murphy has the stylings of a prototypical modern NBA forward. He is a high-volume three-point shooter who has good court sense and great utility even without having the rock. Defensively, he can hold his own thanks to his ranginess that allows him to guard multiple positions.
Should the 76ers cozy up to the idea of parting with one of their prized guards, Murphy should be someone the front office should laser in on in return. He would be a dream fit next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, offering much better availability and malleability than, say, George at this point.
The price will be steep, but if the Philadelphia 76ers are serious about maximizing their chances of winning now without sabotaging their future, Trey Murphy III should be worth the required lofty return package.