7 Players the Sixers Should Look To Trade For
Regardless of how the Markelle Fultz saga pans out, the Sixers desperately need another rotation player. The Jimmy Butler move was fantastic, and Jimmy has seemingly fit in smoothly while filling a massive need for the team. However, the trade meant sending two starters for one, and the Sixers are down a man.
Surely, Elton Brand is thinking playoffs. This team will probably win 50 games as is, but they need at least 1 more piece to provide the depth a serious contender needs. Realistically, the Sixers will look to add the best player they can get on the cheap.
Ideally, a big wing who can play either forward position, shoot an open three, and hold his own defensively is exactly what this team needs. Such a player would space the floor for Simmons and Embiid and allow Simmons and Butler to focus on defending guards, which would be huge considering how opposing guards tend to light-up the Sixers.
This would also allow Brett Brown to play Mike Muscala more exclusively at center, so Embiid can play fewer minutes. JJ Redick could also play a few more minutes against second units as well, allowing Brown to hide JJ’s defensive liabilities a bit more without reducing his influence as a three point shooter.
Unfortunately, the Sixers don’t have a ton of flexibility trade-wise, as they have no more sizable, expiring contracts they can move to make salaries match. Wilson Chandler is making some money and is on an expiring deal, but trading him for a rotation player would leave them in the same situation. Markelle Fultz is also a possibility, but the latest news may make it worthwhile for the Sixers to hold on to him, and it isn’t very clear what he’s worth on the market anyway. The buyout market may be an option later in the year, but Elton Brand may have to get creative to make a deal work.
Nevertheless, here are some players I would love to see the Sixers add, all veterans guys with expiring contracts on bad teams that will probably be looking to move them for an asset before losing them to free agency, and to allow their young guys to get some more minutes (how far we have come from the days where Sam Hinkie would trade all our mediocre veterans away at the deadline for second round picks become we were too good, those were the days):
Markieff Morris
The Wizards will probably only move Morris if they decide the press the reset button and move John Wall or Bradley Beal. They currently sit a 11-14, half a game back from the 8 seed. There’s a good chance they keep the team together through the season if they have a shot at the playoffs, as they may have to “blow it up” this off-season. But if the Wizards put Morris on the trade block, he would be a great fit for the Sixers. He is a solid defensive power forward, and shoots 35% from three. He’s exactly the sort of player the Sixers need.
Trevor Ariza
Ariza is probably the most likely candidate on this list to be moved. If he is not traded, the Suns will probably buy him out. Surely, there is lots of interest around the league in trading for Ariza. Every contender can use another switchy, defense-oriented veteran wing who shoots 35% from three. The issue is his $15 million contract. Any team looking to trade for him is going to be contending for a serious playoff run, and all of these teams lack cap space right now. It will be difficult for most teams to salaries match, including the Sixers. But if Elton Brand can bring Ariza to Philly, whether by a trade or the buyout market, Ariza would solidify the Sixers as an elite defense.
Terrence Ross
Terrence Ross is shooting a ridiculous 41% from three on five attempts per game this year, and can hold his own defensively at 6’7. The Magic will probably be willing to move his expiring $10.5 million contract if they fall out of the playoff race before the trade deadline, or may even buy Ross out of his deal if they don’t anticipate resigning him in the off-season, so they can let their young players pick up some more minutes.
DeMarre Carroll
DeMarre Carroll has a steep $15.4 million cap hit this year, and despite his very solid wing defense, is only shooting 33% from three for the Nets. However, he is a 36% career 3 point shooter, and the Nets would probably love to move him for a draft asset before the trade deadline. Carroll is also a great buyout candidate as well, as the Nets currently sit at 9-18 despite some really good wins.
Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis is probably the most interesting player on this list. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, and only carries a $2.5 million cap hit. He is currently injured, but is expected to come back from injury for the Bulls any day now. Portis is a decent scorer, and is shooting 34% from three in his career. He plays the power forward, but is athletic enough to switch onto wings as a defender. The Bulls may not have Portis in their long-term plans, as they just signed Jabari Parker to a huge deal this off-season and Lauri Markkanen looks like a solid NBA player. The Sixers might have to give up a draft asset for Portis, but he is by far the easiest player on this list to make salaries match for a trade.
Wayne Ellington
Ellington was a player many Sixers fans wanted to sign this past offseason. Ellington is a very solid 38% shooter from three, although he plays shooting guard, which is probably not the biggest position of need for the Sixers right now. However, Ellington is on a reasonable $6.3 million deal, which the Sixers could definitely make work in a trade. Pat Riley is not the kind of executive to tank, but may feel inclined to move Ellington if the Heat continue to under-perform.
Iman Shumpert
Shumpert is a solid perimeter defender, and is shooting 39% from three this year. He is on a pretty steep $11 million deal, and the Kings have seriously overachieved so far this year. They currently sit at 13-11, but may be willing to move Shumpert if they regress back to what we think is their average down the stretch.
