The Philadelphia 76ers notched another victory on MLK Day, as they took down a Kyrie Irving-less Brooklyn Nets, 117-111. This makes it four straight wins for the Sixers, as they continue to work themselves up towards the upper half of the Eastern Conference playoffs picture.
Despite their recent success, however, the fact of the matter is that Philly has not been able to live up to the preseason hype surrounding their team. They still remain to be legitimate contenders in the East, though, but as it seems, they will need to add one or two more upgrades in order to fortify their title hopes. As we near the upcoming trade deadline, it would appear that the Sixers will be active in trying to acquire some fresh talent for their squad. Below are the two most significant needs they will need to address should they decide to pull the trigger on any potential trade deal/s.
A Backup Point Guard
One glaring weakness the Sixres have right now is some legitimate talent beyond their daunting starting unit. While they could use an upgrade in almost every position on the bench, perhaps the biggest need they will need to look into would be in the point guard department. Right now, a combination of Raul Neto and Trey Burke act as the backup to point forward Ben Simmons. Adding a playmaker via trade would surely make sense for the team, as it should also help free up Simmons for him to focus more on his own offense.
One tasty trade candidate that has been linked with the Sixers is none other than Detroit Pistons former MVP winner Derrick Rose. The 31-year-old has been balling out for Detroit all season long and would be an excellent addition for Philadelphia.
A 3-and-D specialist
Another area that requires improvement for the Sixers is their 3-point shooting. Right now, they are one of the lowest-ranked teams when it comes to triples made per ballgame, and in today's NBA, this need is definitely something the front office must address. As a result, floor spacing has proven to be an issue for the most part of the season.
In this regard, a sharp-shooting swingman should be on the top of the 76ers' wishlist. Adding another defensive force to the team's already formidable defensive makeup would not hurt, and a guy like Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Robert Covington could prove to be a perfect fit. There has reportedly been some mutual interest between both parties for a potential reunion, so this is a deal that could actually come to fruition.
It can be argued that the 76ers are a better team right now than they were last season, but to some extent, the same can be said for majority of the NBA. The fact of the matter is that Philly will need to keep up with the times if they hope to keep their title hopes alive, and the current trade window should be an excellent avenue for them to do the same.
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