The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season thus far. They are currently 28-13 with a solid plus 5.1 net rating. Much of the success for the Sixers this season can be attributed to the MVP caliber play of Joel Embiid and the elite defense of Ben Simmons.

They have received some help from Tobias Harris and other role players, but there are still many who think the Sixers are not contenders yet. They lack an elite perimeter creator and rely heavily on young, unproven players for production.

There are three mistakes that the Sixers need to avoid at the deadline if they want to compete for a championship.

Sixers avoidance list:

Mistake 1 — Stand Pat

Despite the success the 76ers have seen so far this season, it would be a mistake for them to do nothing at the deadline. The NBA has proven to be a tough league for a big to thrive in in recent years and despite players like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid bucking that trend so far this year, the 76ers still must ask themselves: “Is this team enough to win a championship with Joel Embiid as our star?” Philadelphia lacks an elite playoff scorer and facilitator who can be trusted at the end of games. There are players like that on the market this year and the 76ers would do well to explore that thoroughly.

Mistake 2 — Lowry or Bust

There has been much buzz surrounding a Kyle Lowry to the 76ers trade and while that could make a lot of sense for both sides, the Sixers need to keep their options open. The asking price for stars has steadily risen over the past couple season and the Raptors could drive a hard bargain for Lowry. A player comparable to Lowry's skillset and contract is Jrue Holiday, who went for 3 first round picks and 2 pick swaps this offseason.

The Sixers could have a hard time reaching that level of assets in a deal for Lowry.

The Sixers have plenty of options, both big and small, and they should all be considered. Players like George Hill, Harrison Barnes, JJ Redick, Victor Oladipo, and Lonzo Ball are all players who could provide to the Sixers without causing them to break the bank.

Mistake 3 — Trade Ben Simmons

A statement often posited about the Sixers is that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons simply cannot coexist on a championship team. While that may be true, this year is the perfect year to test that hypothesis.

This iteration of the Sixers has never been better and Simmons' defense is a big reason for that. Simmons will have the daunting task of guarding players like Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and Giannis Antetokoumpno in the playoffs. It's not worth it to sacrifice that elite defense on a hunch, especially when he can always be dealt in the offseason.

A Deal That Makes Sense For The Sixers

If the Sixers are sold on Kyle Lowry as the solution, the trade that makes the most sense without giving up too many assets would look like this:

Toronto Raptors Receive: Danny Green, Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, Tony Bradley, an Unprotected 2021 First Round Pick, and a Lottery Protected 2025 First Round Pick

Sixers Receive: Kyle Lowry and Paul Watson

This trade gets the Sixers Kyle Lowry without giving up too many picks or valuable young players like Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle. The value makes sense for the Raptors too, as it saves them money and gives them assets they can flip or keep depending on what they want to do.

This move would make the Sixers the favorites in the Eastern Conference to many and add to an already fascinating NBA season.