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The NBA trade deadline is a little over two weeks away. The Philadelphia 76ers are one team the entire basketball community has its eyes on. Following a months-long standoff with Ben Simmons, Daryl Morey has a huge decision on his hands.
Whether we see a Simmons trade or not, the Sixers are still a team to watch in the coming weeks. Morey has never been known to sit on his hands. He is constantly pursuing ways to improve his roster. With Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level, it feels unlikely the deadline comes and goes without Philly making some noise.
No matter the magnitude of the deal, there is one key area of need Morey must address before February 10th.
Sixers Biggest Need: A Ball Handler
One thing the Sixers' roster could greatly benefit from is the addition of another ball handler and facilitator.
Since Simmons debuted in the NBA, he has been the maestro of the Sixers' offense. Because of his high IQ and elite-level facilitation, very rarely was someone other than the former number one pick setting the table. During his hiatus from the team, lack of playmaking has been a glaring weak point.
Multiple players have tried to step up and help fill the void, but the struggles have still been apparent. Tyrese Maxey has been groomed into a point guard this year. He has made strides, but the second-year guard is still a work in progress. Even Embiid has embraced a point-center role at times. That has led to the All-Star center dishing a career-high 4.2 assists per game (4.3).
Heading into the year, the roster was constructed for Maxey to assume the backup point guard duties. With the Simmons saga unfolding, the 21-year-old moved into a full-time starting position. That forced Doc Rivers to go with some unorthodox methods when it comes to backup ball handlers. We have commonly seen Furkan Korkmaz run the second unit. That is something he has never done before in his NBA career.
Players like Korkmaz and Shake Milton can put the ball on the floor but are best optimized as secondary ball handlers. A more traditional point guard is something that should be on the Sixers' wish list leading up to the deadline.
Last year, we saw Morey address a similar void at the trade deadline, acquiring George Hill. Outside of trading Simmons for a high level point guard, it's safe to assume Maxey will remain the starter for the rest of the season. Adding a veteran guard who can run the offense when he is off the floor would fill a desperate need.
There are multiple spots Morey should be looking to upgrade. But adding another facilitator should be his highest priority as the Sixers stock up for a playoff push.
