The NBA offseason is really about to heat up, with trade talks already happening around the league. Teams are already engaging with each other for potential deals and this includes the Philadelphia 76ers, who had a disappointing finish to their 2020-21 season. All-Star Ben Simmons has been the main headline surrounding Sixers trade chatter as they try to get more help for Joel Embiid.
While the Sixers have reportedly started discussing trades with other teams, as of right now, it seems they aren't ready to pull the trigger on parting ways with the 2016 No. 1 pick just yet and are looking into other avenues to improve the chances of winning a championship. Instead, Philly is looking to deal the 28th pick in the upcoming draft, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
With this development, here are the two best non-Ben Simmons deals the Sixers can make to help Joel Embiid.
1. Sign-and-Trade for Kyle Lowry
The Sixers have been tied to Kyle Lowry and have been a potential destination for the North Philly native for quite a while now. This would technically be a trade since Philadelphia would need to ship out somebody to land the 6-foot-1 point guard, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Potential Lowry-to-Philly deals that have been floated around involve the Raptors acquiring Ben Simmons, while also sending their No. 4 overall pick to the Sixers.
However, if Philadelphia is adamant about keeping the Australian while adding Lowry to their Simmons-Embiid tandem, they could still entice the Raps by sending a package involving the 28th overall pick, multiple future first-round draft picks, and one of their young pieces in Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle to Toronto. They would also need to part ways with Tobias Harris' fat contract by either sending him to the Raptors or finding a third team in order to make room for Lowry.
Lowry would definitely add a different dynamic to Philadelphia, giving them the grit and edge they've been needing over the last couple of years. This move would obviously shift Simmons to the 3 or 4 position, where he has thrived in the past. It would also give head coach Doc Rivers more flexibility with his lineups.
Despite being 36 years old, Lowry does not look like he is in for a massive drop-off just yet. He can still bring tenacity, energy, and hustle on the defensive end. He could also be the Sixers' secondary option on offense after Joel Embiid and could be their primary playmaker in clutch situations. Most importantly, Lowry would bring a ton of playoff experience and a championship pedigree to a team that badly needs it.
Philadelphia saw the Milwaukee Bucks go all in last offseason by acquiring Jrue Holiday. Doing their own version of this by going hard after Lowry could ultimately get them over the top.
2. Trade for Kemba Walker
We have already suggested this deal for Philadelphia in a previous piece, and it likely wouldn't cost the Sixers Ben Simmons in the process. By trading for Kemba Walker from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Philly would likely need to package forward Tobias Harris along with the 28th overall pick in the upcoming draft. This should be the minimum baseline for the deal, but if the Thunder insist on adding another pick to add to their filled-to-the-brim cupboard of draft assets, the Sixers should still strongly consider doing so.
Philadelphia wants to construct a championship-winning squad now with Joel Embiid entering his prime. While Simmons' fit alongside the Cameroonian is questionable, it's easy to understand why there is still some hesitation on their part in parting ways with the dynamic player. Simmons is still just 24 years old, and though he hasn't progressed offensively the way the Sixers would have liked, there is still room for him to grow and develop his game.
An addition of Kemba Walker would afford them to keep Simmons, while also addressing their need for a go-to shot creator and playmaker. The 31-year-old has been hampered with injuries over the last couple of years, which should still be a cause for concern. Nonetheless, his injury history is why acquiring him shouldn't be too costly for Philadelphia.
Walker is someone who could create his own, can shoot, and can be their primary option down the stretch of close games. There's a reason why he's called Cardiac Kemba due to the montage of big shots he has made throughout his career.
Walker wouldn't bring the same defense and championship experience to Philly that Lowry does. Nonetheless, he's a cheaper yet viable target who could end up paying dividends for them if they do win the big one.
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