.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
5 Potential Trade Targets for the Philadelphia 76ers
With trade rumors around the league beginning to heat up, what are some potential players the Philadelphia 76ers could–realistically–target?
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of yet another rough season, but the improvements are increasingly apparent. They continue to make great strides shooting the basketball, and the team has established itself as a strong defensive unit with Joel Embiid on the court.
More from The Sixer Sense
With that said, they remain far from a finished product moving forwards. The 2017 NBA Draft is likely to add a few key cogs, as will free agency, but there is still a rather great amount of room for the team to grow this season — via trade.
Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are the obvious names that come to mind when considering a potential trade, but the ball doesn’t necessarily stop there. There are several trades that could fly under the radar, yet still bring immense improvement to an evolving Philly rotation.
The Sixers, whether you like it or not, are still in the midst of the league’s most radical rebuild. They have the least proven talent on their roster outside of Brooklyn, and their lack of consistent production is a serious concern still. They rely greatly on a rather streaky group of young players at this point, and balancing that out with a more talented core around Embiid would be major progress.
While that doesn’t mean they have to go after veterans, it does entail that they would, ideally, add a few players that have potential beyond their current rotational pieces.
Where the trade market stands
The Sixers find themselves in an odd position when it comes to trades. While Okafor and Noel certainly have value, it’s somewhat skewed by the lack of leverage they hold as a team. Teams understand that Philadelphia needs to rid themselves of a frontcourt player, and therefore aren’t going to make any extravagent offers in that realm.
Their lack of flexibility is only worsened by the fact that they don’t possess much long term talent elsewhere in the rotation. Sergio Rodriguez and Gerald Henderson are solid stopgap starters, but outside of Embiid and Ben Simmons — the untradeables — the Sixers don’t have much potential to offer.
They have to maneuver carefully to get deals done. That means playing it smart with future picks, and trying to inflate the perceived values of some players. Try trading players like T.J. McConnell or Nik Stauskas when they’re hot, rather than stirring the trade waters with a cold spoon, metaphorically speaking.
The following is a breakdown of a handful of players the Philadelphia 76ers could go after.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
SF Stanley Johnson
The 8th pick in the 2015 Draft has taken a step back this season. After a strong rookie campaign, which saw him average 8.1 points per game in 23.1 minutes, Johnson has experienced a sizable decrease in playing time this season. He’s putting up just 3.5 points per contest thus far, and is playing almost 10 minutes less on a nightly basis.
A large part of that can be chalked up to the emergence of Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris as reliable options at the three spot, but it’s concerning nonetheless. Reports are that Detroit is still holding off on trade offers for Johnson, but it’s plausible to see one emerge.
In terms of Johnson’s fit with the team, there are some clear pros and cons. He’s an elite defensive prospect, and that’s something that could help the Sixers in a relatively weak facet of their rotation. The Sixers not only lack depth on the wing, but lack defensive prowess in the reserve unit. The Sixers place a great deal of defensive pressure on Gerald Henderson and Robert Covington on the perimeter, and Johnson helps relieve that stress a bit.
Johnson played fearless defense on LeBron James during the playoffs last season, and his willingness to grind it out on that side of the ball is something that could benefit on any given night. He lacks polish in some aspects, but is a spectacular athlete on the wing, and someone the Sixers would be wise to cultivate.
What the Philadelphia 76ers Must Give Up
It’s somewhat tough to judge where Johnson’s value truly stands at this point, but it should remain relatively high. As an excellent defender on the wing and a respectable offensive talent, he has the upside to be a strong two-way threat for the foreseeable future.
He’s clearly not quite there yet in terms of development, but the Sixers should have little — if any — problem waiting. Philadelphia is built around youthful talent, and possess the potential to offer him playing time he’s simply not receiving under Stan Van Gundy.
In terms of what they must give up, Philadelphia is in a tough spot given their lack of talent. A future pick down the road may be in line, with their gradual improvement perhaps moving some of the risk from that scenario.
Other options would be to rely on a compilation of bench assets. Hollis Thompson and T.J. McConnell are easy names to throw around, but other players — such as Nik Stauskas and Richaun Holmes — would likely need to be considered as well given Johnson’s value.
As a young lottery selection, the 20-year-old still gives the Pistons a good bit of leverage in this deal. He’s a raw piece, but the upside remains — and he displays flashes of being extremely effective on both ends.
Robert Covington might even be a name that could go in this deal, as Johnson does present someone who could develop into a more suitable long term starter. He could be difficult to pry away, but the Sixers should,at the very least, test the waters.
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SG Mario Hezonja
Hezonja is another 2015 draftee who is experiencing a sophomore decline. After a solid 2015 campaign, the Croatian stud has faltered in surprising fashion, shooting just 19 percent from deep and losing playing time, despite the departure of Victor Oladipo on the wing.
As someone who could be seeing a D-League stint soon according to coach Frank Vogel, Hezonja is clearly someone who has fallen out of favor from a rotational perspective. He’s barely seeing the court on some nights, and has been inconsistent when he has been playing.
Despite some glaring concerns however, the Sixers would be foolish not to give Orlando a call here. Hezonja is a higher draft pick that Johnson — 5th overall — and still possesses some promising attributes long term.
He’s a impressive athlete on the wing, with fluid motion and excellent size at 6-8. Hezonja is capable of playing above the rim with ease in transition, and when on his game, is a snipper when trailing in position. He’s a confident athletic force, and an even more confident shooter — it’s just a matter of putting him in the right position to succeed.
Coming into the league, Hezonja’s trademark was his attitude. He showed a lot of swagger overseas with Barcelona, and brought that fiery attitude to the NBA Draft discussion with him. While his emotional investment in games turned into an issue at times, there’s little denying how effective Hezonja can be when he’s into the game.
He drew J.R. Smith comparisons for a reason. While that may not be the blessing that many fans want to here, having a sharpshooter who knocks down shots from anywhere on the floor is always a bonus.
What the Philadelphia 76ers Must Give Up
Like Johnson, it’s tough to gauge where Hezonja’s value stands at this point. His decrease in both playing time and efficiency are clear concerns, yet the tremendous upside he possesses as a prospect is difficult to overlook.
With that said, one factor that’s different between the two cases is the fact that the Magic seem much more willing to dangle Hezonja on the trade market. While there aren’t as many straight up reports on the issue, Coach Vogel stating the possibility of assigning him to the D-League shows that team doesn’t consider him all that useful to the rotation.
They’re clearly encouraged by his performance thus far in 2016, and that could lead Orlando to parting without too much resistance.
A reasonable conclusion to draw here would once again be draft picks. Whether it be a future first rounder of some sort or a handful of seconds, lobbing a nice package of picks could be enough to force Orlando’s hand on the issue — especially if they aren’t confident in Hezonja as a player.
Covington works his way into the conversation here as perhaps the most valuable piece the Sixers should consider giving up, while the likes of Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson and T.J. McConnell are easily traded in this scenario. McConnell’s lack of a backup does draw some concerns there, however.
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
SF Terrence Ross
Ross is the best player mentioned on this list at this point, and someone the Sixers would be fortunate to land. At 25-years-old, Ross is still developing as a player, but has already emerged as a key scorer off the bench for a Toronto team that has been playing the best basketball in the Eastern Conference as of late.
While his role is somewhat limited behind DeMar DeRozan and DeMarre Carroll in the rotation, Ross is still managing to impress this season. His perimeter shooting is among the more proficient bench threats in the league, as he’s tallying a 45 percent clip from deep.
As a spot-up shooter, Ross fits ideally into the Sixers’ lineup. He’d be their most formidable shooting threat from deep, and offers the type of long-term upside they lack on the exterior. He averages the most points per touch in the NBA, and is the type of perimeter spark plug the Sixers simply don’t possess at the moment.
He has upped his consistency across the board this season, and has quickly emerged as a key cog to one of the most efficient offenses we’ve seen thus far.
Overstating Ross’ impact in reserve is tough to do, which begs a highly relevant question here — why would the Raptors part ways with him?
While it would certainly take a hefty price tag, there are assets the Sixers can provide that could force their hand.
What the Philadelphia 76ers Must Give Up
The more I ponder this, the more it feels like this would have to be a three-team deal. The Sixers would of course get Ross, and Nerlens Noel would likely be the cornerstone of the big haul in Toronto’s favor. With that said, the Raptors would need some way to counteract loosing Ross’ punch off the bench.
That could bring a third team into the conversation, and perhaps land the Sixers a handful of extra assets as well. There’s a solid argument in valuing Noel higher than Ross, but it’s a matter of balancing the rotational shifts on each side.
The Sixers could stand to press for a point guard in this scenario, with T.J. McConnell now in full possession of the duties in lieu of the Bayless injury. Norman Powell would be an ideal scorer and secondary guard prospect to bring in from Toronto’s side, but the Raptors could seek to hold on to him for the purpose of filling Ross’ void on the exterior.
It’s tough to delve into details here considering there’s no straight forward approach to selecting a third team to include. With that said, Noel and Ross would likely be the key pieces that this deal revolves around.
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
SG Gary Harris
Harris has been hit by the injury bug for Denver, and thus he’s spent a solid portion of this season on the bench thus far. Even though his production isn’t declining, there’s reason to believe trading him could be in the Nuggets’ best interest moving forward.
The Nuggets seem to be drifting out of the playoff race, and their guard-heavy rotation isn’t constructed all that well for long-term success. They have a pair of rookies who, regardless of Mike Malone’s preferences, seem deserving of more minutes at some point in Jamal Murray and Juancho Hernangomez, and lightening up their rotation on the exterior could help make that easier.
Harris’ 3-point shooting would be his most relevant asset as a Sixer. He could feasibly be slid into the starting rotation at some point, and has the youth — just 22-years-old — to fit nicely into Philadelphia’s long term plans. He has shot 41 percent from deep in his limited time on the floor so far in 2016.
He’s not the flashiest producer, but Harris is somebody who can find a number of ways to contribute on the offensive end. Harris is a smart passer on the wing, and the type of floor spacer who opens up a myriad of opportunities offensively.
There aren’t too many instances where he tries to overexert himself offensively, and he would likely find a seamless niche in Brett Brown’s backcourt as somebody who plays well within the system.
What the Philadelphia 76ers Must Give Up
This is an interesting proposition given how little Harris has played this season, but his production over the past two seasons has earned him some legitimate value. He played 32 minutes per game last season, and put up 12 points per contest in the process, establishing the fact that he’s certainly a starting caliber player in some spots.
In terms of what the Sixers move here, Noel and Okafor are off the table. Denver is set on the interior with Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic, and Harris’ value doesn’t necessarily garner such a massive return for the Nuggets.
A package of future picks could be in line here once again, considering that it’s an easy way to guarentee long term potential without drastically shaking up the talent core on the team. Hollis Thompson and Nik Stauskas are easy names to throw into the conversation once again as well.
Harris is a solid two-way player who showcases the type of energy teams love to boast on the outside. He’s a valuable asset for Denver, but is simply stuffed in the midst of a crowded backcourt — somewhat of a reversal from the Sixers’ frontcourt logjam.
Philadelphia has to to throw some quality pieces into a trade like this, but it wouldn’t be a blockbuster by any accounts.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
PG Tyus Jones
Finally, a point guard! While this may seem like the least exciting of the players listed, Jones fits a very specific — and highly necessary — role with the Sixers: backup point guard.
McConnell is a solid stopgap given his relentless energy. With that said, however, he simply isn’t a great player by NBA standards. The Sixers would be wise to find a serviceable backup with Bayless out of the equation through the season’s end, and Jones brings several unique bonuses.
He’s highly affordable on his rookie contract, first off, and brings an incredible rapport to the court alongside current Sixer Jahlil Okafor. Jones and Okafor were teammates and friends during the FIBA U-16 Americas tournament several years ago, and carried that friendship over to a national championship run during their one year at Duke.
They stuck together intentionally, and are among the better friends you’ll find at the NBA level. Giving Okafor that boost of confidence in bringing over a teammate who knows the ins and outs of playing alongside him could be a nice boost, assuming the plan is to retain Okafor long-term behind Embiid.
Jones isn’t a flashy producer, but is a highly intelligent playmaker. He’s a precise passer on the outside, and understands how to find his own shots as opportunities come about. He doesn’t force the issue much at all, and fits the mold of a prototypical backup point guard almost flawlessly.
What the Philadelphia 76ers Must Give Up
This is likely the least consuming package in terms of trade value that I’ve had to propose. The Timberwolves have a pair of point guards in Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn that they will likely continue to ride for at least another season. John Lucas III also gives Tom Thibodeau a third-string veteran that he’s familiar with, making Jones’ void minimal.
A simple package of second round picks could be sufficiency with the offering of T.J. McConnell remaining entirely reasonable. There’s good reason to believe the likes of Hollis Thompson would be well worth the value in return as well.
The Philadelphia 76ers need a better backup point guard moving forwards, and Jones would be a reasonable route towards attaining one. Pairing the potential of a 2017 draftee in front of Jones long-term would be an appealing combination in the backcourt, and could help sure up Philadelphia’s rotation for the foreseeable future in a manner that might not be anticipated.
