As the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaches, trades, rumors, and speculations have been flying all over the place. At this point, it’s hard to figure out which players will be moved. However, the teams can be categorized as buyers and sellers fairly easily.
As of early February, the Sixers currently sit at fifth in the Eastern Conference. As most would assume, they are buyers, looking to make more of a push to build the championship-caliber roster around their superstar, Joel Embiid, who can potentially return from injury a few weeks before the playoffs begin.
Per Shams Charania of the Athletic, the Sixers plan to be “active” at the deadline. However, they will not chase some of the bigger names mentioned this deadline such as Dejounte Murray.
In addition to those names, another name that the Sixers will likely not pursue is recently acquired Toronto Raptor, Bruce Brown. Brown was dealt to the Raptors for all-star Pascal Siakam on Wednesday.
However, with those names most likely out of the question, which players are the Sixers willing to trade for?
Portland Trail Blazers – Malcolm Brogdon
Brogdon is a perfect fit for the Sixers backup PG position. I’m sure many Sixers fans remember how much he torched them in the playoffs just last season, averaging 16 points per game. Speaking of last season, Brogdon took home the Sixth Man of the Year award as a member of the Boston Celtics but is now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers after the Jrue Holiday trade.
The 31-year-old has plenty of experience, now in his eighth season in the league. Also, since the Trail Blazers are a young team and in the rebuilding stage, they’ll probably be looking for suitors to trade Brogdon.
Brogdon has also had experience in running offenses during his time with the Pacers when he averaged 18.9 points, five rebounds, and 6.3 assists throughout the three years he spent with the team. Although his three-ball percentage fluctuated in those three years, Brogdon became a pretty elite shooter after the trade to Boston, as he shot 44 percent from three with the Celtics and is currently shooting 42 percent with Portland.
The only real major concern with Brogdon is his injury history, as it’s pretty long, dating back to his college days.
Detroit Pistons – Bojan Bogdanović
The veteran sharpshooter would be a fantastic addition to the Sixers off the bench. Not only does Bojan shoot threes at an excellent clip (40.9%), but he averages 7.4 attempts per season. Bojan isn’t just purely a very reliable shooter, as he can drive and get to the basket as well. He may not be the quickest to get around defenders with ease, but you can count on him to get you buckets in the mid-range.
In terms of fitting with the Sixers, he’s one of the safest options available on the market. Bojan’s contract is pretty team-friendly for this season, at $20 million. Because of the contract, this also makes the Bogdanović trade a little easier to match salaries.
Utah Jazz – Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen has been a name floating around for a while now. Since being dealt to Utah, Markkanen has blossomed into an all-star. The seven-foot power forward is an elite and effective shooter from the three. Along with his impressive shooting, he’s also a much-improved scorer inside the arc compared to his earlier days on the Bulls.
However, there is a reason why I put him last. Even though Markkanen is due for an extension soon, the Jazz are unwilling to deal him in any trade.
But with that being said, anything could happen as the Sixers look to finally make their big push.
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