76ers Trade Predictions Ahead of Thursday's Deadline

The Philadelphia 76ers may not have much up their sleeve ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

They have cemented themselves among the top teams in the Eastern Conference and shown the kind of two-way dominance typically only seen in heavyweight contenders.

That doesn't mean the Sixers will stay silent during trade season, but dramatic deals almost certainly aren't in the cards for this club.

A New Backup for Joel Embiid

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 5, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Stop me if you've heard this a time or two (million) before, but the Sixers could stand to beef up their center spot behind Joel Embiid.

Montrezl Harrell has held up mostly OK during his first season in Philly, but history says his utility will expire once the regular season does. He is neither a reliable rim protector nor a nimble stopper who can comfortably switch on to perimeter players, meaning the focused game plans that surface in the postseason can scheme him off the floor.

Paul Reed, meanwhile, still hasn't earned the trust of head coach Doc Rivers. Why would that change over the coming months? If he isn't getting regular minutes in January and February, how on earth could he find them in May or June?

Philly's desire for a new backup big man is such that it could consider adding another center even if Harrell and Reed stay put, per PhillyVoice's Kyle Neubeck. The Sixers will add someone, whether that's Jarred Vanderbilt, Andre Drummond, Nerlens Noel or someone who's farther off the radar.

Matisse Thybulle Will Be Traded

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 30: Matisse Thybulle #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 30, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Perimeter defense has been a challenge for Philly all season, and it still hasn't seen a major need for Matisse Thybulle.

His 12.1 minutes per night aren't even half as many as he received just last season. And if the pattern from his first three seasons repeats itself, his role will be reduced once the playoffs start.

This should be all of the information the Sixers need when deciding how to proceed with Thybulle. He'll have restricted free agency awaiting him after this season, and Philly would have a hard time justifying that cost. Right or wrong, the Sixers have indicated they see his offensive limitations as fatal flaws.

If they move Thybulle—the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings both have interest, per Marc Stein—they need to bring back some kind of stopper, but one who brings at least a little utility to the offensive end. Downgrading on defense but upgrading on offense would give Philadelphia a more well-rounded player who wouldn't be as easy to coach against in the postseason.

Sixers Sneak Below the Tax Line

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Furkan Korkmaz #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 28, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

The 76ers are close enough to a championship run that finances won't dictate their deadline decisions.

However, they're also close enough to the luxury-tax line that finances won't be excluded from those discussions.

"This season currently marks Philadelphia's third straight year as a taxpayer, which would subject the Sixers to pay repeater tax rates on every dollar over the 2023-24 tax threshold," Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer observed. "The Sixers are hovering just above this year's tax line at present, which could put players such as Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle and Jaden Springer in the trade conversation."

If the 76ers were able to nab a difference-maker, they probably wouldn't think twice about the tax. That type of go-for-broke trade just doesn't seem necessary for this group, so it makes more sense to reset the tax clock, especially when the price to do so might only be a back-end-of-the-rotation player and a minor draft consideration.