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The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough situation this season, thanks in large part to the absence of Ben Simmons. Ben Simmons isn’t necessarily going to make the Sixers a better team, but in the regular season, he could help them.
If Philadelphia wants to win a championship this season with superstar Joel Embiid, they’ll have to make some significant changes. Let’s take a look at some potential moves for the Sixers before the trade deadline this year.
While all of these trades could be tough, some contending teams are going to overpay and due to the players’ salary, they will have to give back a big package. Not all of these trades are likely, but contending teams are going to be doing everything they can to get better, which could cause some wild trades to be done, as we have seen in the past. Teams in a rebuild type of situation will also attempt to move some key players, and at times, for less than what they are worth.
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Best Trades The Sixers Must Make Before The NBA Trade Deadline
Nets get: Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz
Sixers get: James Harden
Although there have been several reports that the Sixers may try to get James Harden this season, it would probably make more sense for them to wait until the summer. They may opt not to wait because Joel Embiid has been performing like the best player in the NBA thus far, so it may be in their best interests to make this move now. Because of the Kyrie Irving scenario and the fact that he’s not playing unless it’s an away game, Brooklyn may be hesitant to trade James Harden, but if they believe they will not be able to keep James Harden in the summer, it may be something they consider.
This exchange makes a lot of sense from both perspectives. With the pick-and-roll that James Harden and Joel Embiid would run if he were on the Philadelphia 76ers, they would be practically unstoppable. If the Nets can reclaim one of the best defensive players in the NBA, they’ll be able to straighten up their struggling defense.
This is only something Brooklyn would do if they didn’t think they’d be able to keep James Harden in the summer or if Kyrie Irving did decide to get immunized. If Kyrie Irving gets immunized, it provides the Brooklyn Nets a significant advantage, which might be very beneficial to the Sixers this season.
Wizards get: Ben Simmons
Sixers get: Bradley Beal, future draft pick(s)
This is an intriguing situation because, while Bradley Beal is an elite talent, he is not playing well this season. If he does come to Philadelphia, there’s a chance he’ll revert to his old ways because he’ll be in a much better situation and be much happier than he was in Washington.
Although Bradley Beal isn’t the same type of player like James Harden in that he prefers to take a lot of shots and doesn’t necessarily pass much, he would still be a good fit for this team because he is a legitimate scoring option, which will allow Joel Embiid to score even more than he already does.
Philadelphia would also receive a future first-round pick, or maybe more, because they have said that draft picks are a priority in the Ben Simmons trade.
Kings get: Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons
Sixers get: Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox
Despite the fact that this may not be the ideal offer for the Sixers, it’s something they should consider. Philadelphia would acquire Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox, both of whom have shown to be high-level players in this league, as well as Harrison Barnes, who has also proven to be a 17-point per night scorer and an exceptional bench option for a team like the Sixers.
If they can obtain this kind of return, this may be a huge move for the Sixers to consider. It should come as no surprise that Philadelphia might trade Tobias Harris. Ben Simmons will definitely be moved, and Tobias Harris’ performance this season suggests that he will as well. Although it is difficult to believe that Philadelphia will deal both of these players, it appears as they could.
Blazers get: Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons
Sixers get: Damian Lillard, Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic
This is another trade in which both of their second and third best players would be shipped out of Philadelphia. Philadelphia would reclaim Damian Lillard, perhaps the best guard in the NBA, and not only would they get him, but they would also receive Robert Covington and Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic may not get a lot of action in the playoffs because Joel Embiid will clearly be out there for as long as his body allows him to, but Nurkic can still be someone who plays heavy minutes if Philadelphia wants to run a big lineup. Damian Lillard, like Joel Embiid, can take over a game at any point, which is something a team needs come playoff time.
Robert Covington is one of the NBA’s elite 3 & D players, and if a competitive team can acquire someone like him, the squad instantly improves.