Widespread concerns regarding the present and future of the Philadelphia 76ers don't stem from their place in the standings. Brett Brown's team currently sits at 33-18, good for a 53-win pace, and owns the eighth-best net rating in basketball — a ranking not indicative of a surefire title contender, but hardly one that means the Sixers will be some also-ran in the playoffs, either.
If there's a reason for league followers to be down on Philadelphia other than Jimmy Butler's questionable fit on the roster, though, it's the rippling weakness that trading for the four-time All-Star made even worse: a decided lack of quality depth.
In hopes of fortifying their bench, the Sixers reportedly have interest in exploring trade opportunities for Atlanta Hawks big man Dewayne Dedmon, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
Dewayne Dedmon, 29, has developed into a legitimate 3-point threat since signing with the Atlanta Hawks in the summer of 2017. He attempted just one triple during his first four years in the league, but he hoisted a whopping 141 triples last season at a 35.5 percent clip. Dedmon has been even more prolific from beyond the arc in 2018-19, launching 3.1 attempts per game while upping his accuracy to 37.2 percent.
The 7-footer's newfound ability to stretch the floor is what makes him most attractive to the Sixers, who blitzed the league with Embiid out of the lineup late last season by surrounding Ben Simmons with shooters.
Ersan Ilyasova signed a pricey deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason, and his replacement Mike Muscala, who also sometimes shares the floor with superstar center Joel Embiid, is shooting just 34.7 percent from deep this campaign. Not to mention that Muscala lacks the physical tools needed to capably defend multiple positions.
Brown recently made rookie Jonah Bolden part of the rotation to inject his team with some much-needed energy up front, but he's undersized at center and doesn't look ready for the playoff stage — offering more theoretical stretch than practical.
Dedmon, obviously, would be a great fit behind Embiid, as he has the shooting touch and foot speed to play next to Philadelphia's franchise player in a pinch. However, it remains debatable how much he would ultimately move the needle for a team behind the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference pecking order. That is also one of the reasons why the Sixers, according to ESPN, are reluctant to part with injured former first overall pick Markelle Fultz in a trade for the Hawks big man.
The trade deadline is Feb. 7. Philadelphia will almost certainly make a move between now and then, whether it involves Dedmon or not. As far as available help up front goes, though, the Sixers would be hard-pressed to do any better considering their hesitance to surrender any meaningful assets in a deal.
Follow Us
Subscribe