Sitting at third in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are not in need of a drastic roster change but Daryl Morey has never been one to miss an opportunity. This season, according to the latest rumblings out of Philly, the 76ers are expected to pursue two big-name players ahead of February’s deadline as they chase the NBA championship.
“The Sixers are continuing to look at the marketplace. If you look at their asset pool, three first-round picks they can trade. They have a bunch of contracts… So, Zach LaVine, OG Anunoby, those are two names to keep an eye on as guys that Philadelphia has monitored and has a level of interest in. Another guy to watch is Tobias Harris, who is on an expiring deal for $37 million. He’s been a one-two punch at different points and a lot of teams are keeping an eye on him.”
"Zach LaVine, OG Anunoby, those are two names to keep an eye on as guys that Philadelphia has monitored."@ShamsCharania on the Sixers monitoring the marketplace.
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— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 21, 2023
James Harden’s departure this summer left a hole in the backcourt and Tyrese Maxey has more than filled the void. But in a Conference with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Orlando Magic, the margin of error has never been slimmer for Embiid and the crew. Even with Embiid, Maxey, and Tobias Harris, the 76ers may still be a piece or two away from becoming NBA champions.
Zach LaVine Sweepstakes Is Heating Up
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell looms on the horizon as a potential trade target in the future, but Bulls star Zach LaVine is a player who’s available right now and the team is actively seeking to send him away. With averages of 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 44.3% shooting, LaVine is an elite scorer and capable ball handler who could elevate the Sixers’ offense in a big way. But with a salary of $40+ million per year, LaVine’s contract isn’t an easy one to swallow and it’s a major risk to bring him in.
With a 19-8 record so far, the 76ers have been on fire to start this season and the tandem between Maxey and Embiid looks to be among the best in the league. Adding a high-volume scorer and negative defender like LaVine into the mix threatens to upset the balance in Philly but he’s arguably their best option right now if they want to raise their ceiling as a team.
76ers Are Dominating The East
After losing out on several big names this summer, and trading their star to Los Angeles, the 76ers were projected to take a major step back in the East after finishing 3rd last season. Instead, they’ve been better in almost every way thanks to the breakout performance of Tyrese Maxey. Maxey’s career-high 26.1 season average has him at the top of the Most Improved Player ballot and his perimeter shooting has opened up the floor in new ways for Joel Embiid.
If you add a sharpshooter like LaVine or a two-way wing like Anunoby to the mix, it could further strengthen Philly’s case as the best team in the East and it would give them some insurance if one of their other players goes down this season. For now, however, they are just fine letting Embiid and Maxey run the show and it’s been fun watching them dominate the league together.
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