The Philadelphia 76ers look like a formidable unit on paper but have enough room to add a potential matchwinner alongside Joel Embiid and James Harden.
Despite their fair run so far, the Sixers have been hit with injuries to their big names, and that could prove to be a major cause for concern as the regular season goes past the halfway mark. And they appear to have made some conversations already.
Reports of the team dangling Tobias Harris have been doing the rounds, while Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, and Jaden Springer were some of the other names floating around.
Speculations and rumor mills seem to have focused more on Harris, considering he was part of trade talks since the last season. Earlier, theories of the Sixers and the Atlanta Hawks in a trade generated enough buzz but haven’t held water. Such has been the MO of the trade deadline that deals aren’t done until mid-January or early February.
With that, here’s a look at the three players the Sixers could trade this season.
3. Furkan Korkmaz
After playing six seasons with the Sixers, there is every chance that Furkan Korkmaz may find a new home before the end of the season. He’s averaging 4.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists with roughly 12 minutes of time on the floor.
He signed a three-year deal with Philadelphia and is slated for $5 million this year and the next. The Sixers could add him as part of a package deal if they intend to acquire a backup for one of their big stars.
Per ClutchPoints, the guard was one of the names listed in a trade scenario that would send him and Matisse Thybulle (more on him later) to the Houston Rockets in exchange for veteran Eric Gordon, whose name has been spoken about over the last few weeks.
2. Matisse Thybulle
Matisse Thybulle is the other Sixer who has been discussed as a trade option for Philadelphia. Per HoopsHype, the side could add the guard to the mix to get under the luxury tax bracket.
The 76ers are only $1.1 million over the threshold. If they want to get under the luxury tax it would be relatively easy to do so as they could trade one of Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz and Jaden Springer.
Thybulle and Korkmaz have both been part of the 76ers’ rotation in the past and have played more recently given the injuries. They are good insurance in case more injuries occur, but when the team is healthy, they are not a part of the regular.
Thybulle averages 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists this season. He is in his third of the four-year $12 million deal he inked with the franchise. Like Korkmaz, Thybulle could benefit from a change in scenery and perhaps find a home in a rebuilding team that would see him get more minutes.
1. Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris is the highest-paid player on the team and has been one of the names in trade markets, although he did admit to CBS Sports’ Michael Kaskey-Blomain that it’s a topic that drains his energy.
“That’s something I’d rather not talk about. That already took too much energy out of me yesterday and today, and I want to move on from it. But, this is my 11th year in the NBA. It’s not my first rodeo. It’s not the first time I’ve been in trade rumors and it probably won’t be the last. So that’s that”
Harris averages 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists this season and has one year and $39 million remaining on his contract. While he has been thriving in his role as a player who comes in when one of the big three is not on the floor.
His ability to let it fly and make an impact makes him a reliable asset for Philadelphia, but they just might look for a more improved version, especially with the money they can offer to get another star.
Weeks ago, an NBA Analysis Network feature explored the possibility of the Hawks landing Harris for John Collins, and they referred to the move as a “talent upgrade.”
Collins is a functionally similar player to Harris. He’s a four who can space the floor and create his own shot. He’s simply much more athletic – this is mostly a talent upgrade for the Sixers.
Only time will tell if Harris will be one of the set pieces that the Sixers will consider retaining.
Player salaries via Spotrac.
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