Philadelphia 76ers' 2015 Trade-Deadline Shopping List
The Philadelphia 76ers are about to go shopping as they slowly approach one of the NBA's most active times of the season: the 2015 trade deadline.
No team in the league made more moves at the 2014 deadline than the Sixers, who were part of four different deals. Philadelphia traded away two of its most productive players, Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner, and showed its hand as to what it values most.
General manager Sam Hinkie made sure that Philly would build toward the future with each of last year's deals. One got rid of the heavily criticized Turner, and the other three each gave the Sixers a draft pick.
Hinkie caught most of the league off guard in 2013 with his entrance as Philadelphia's head man in charge. It was clear there wasn't a player on the roster who was untouchable and that he would do anything in his power to improve the team.
It appears as though his latest deal, moving Brandon Davies for Andre Kirilenko and second-round draft picks, has soured his reputation, though.
"According to two sources with inside knowledge of the negotiations, the Sixers had agreed to release veteran forward Andrei Kirilenko after the trade was consummated, but did not follow through on that handshake deal. Kirilenko, who played only seven games with the Nets this season, remains on the Sixers roster but has refused to join the team despite a request to do so.
"He might have an IQ of 150, but [Hinkie] doesn't seem to realize you have to deal with these people over and over," one league source said.
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If this news is indeed accurate, then the Sixers might have some trouble when it comes to this year's February 19 trade deadline.
Whether that's the case or not, here's a look at Philadelphia's potential shopping list as their time to make deals runs out.
Perry Jones: Athletic Wing with a High Ceiling
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Robert Covington has done an exceptional job since joining the Sixers, becoming an instant threat to score. The only problem is that his potential may be limited.
He's a 6'9" wing who excels at shooting the ball from deep. His 40.8 three-point percentage is a clear indicator of his abilities when it comes to letting the rock fly. His 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game could put Philadelphia in the perfect sell-high situation in return for a forward who possesses a slightly higher ceiling.
Somebody like Perry Jones.
Jones was able to show a slight glimpse of his potential when he filled in for the injured Kevin Durant as the season began. Jones averaged 17.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in the four games before he himself was injured. His 6'11" frame is borderline ridiculous when it comes to the small forward position. Combine that kind of length with an immense amount of bounce, and he has the physical makeup to be a superstar.
The 23-year-old Jones could be in the unenviable position of only needing an opportunity to be a starter in order to potentially turn into something more. There isn't a better place than Philadelphia for someone like Jones to end up.
A half-season with the Sixers should give the team more than enough time to decide if he's someone worth building with or just another athlete who failed to live up to his hype.
Andrea Bargnani: Major Expiring Contract for Future Draft Picks
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Feel free to give yourself a moment to laugh. The mere thought of mentioning a trade for Andrea Bargnani deserves somewhat of a chuckle.
Okay, now that we've had our fun, let's look at how it benefits the Sixers.
First and foremost, taking on Bargnani's $11.5 million contract would be very beneficial to the New York Knicks. So beneficial that they might be willing to throw in future draft picks in order to sweeten Philadelphia's pot.
The Sixers don't need to worry about taking on such a big contract, as they have the NBA lowest payroll at over $41 million, per HoopsHype.com. The other benefit to absorbing his money is that it expires at the end of the season, which doesn't put Philly in any long-term trouble but opens up a roster spot for a big-name free agent or two.
Speaking of which: A Bargnani deal does nothing to hurt the Sixers' chances at the likes of Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler, two fantastic players who are slated to become restricted free agents come this offseason. Each is sure to draw a max contract, and Philadelphia will be more than ready to throw that kind of money their way.
The bottom line is that acquiring a large expiring contract like Bargnani's has the potential to be accompanied by young prospects or future draft picks. Both would be worth bringing on that kind of money for the rest of this season.
Tyreke Evans: Another Man Who Can Do It All
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Will the New Orleans Pelicans make another high-profile trade with the Sixers after the Jrue Holiday deal? Most likely not. Both teams are finding success of late, but there was a clear feeling of contention as to who got the better end of transaction.
Still though, making a move for New Orleans' Tyreke Evans could help Philadelphia immensely in the future.
Evans is like a rich man's Tony Wroten. They're both 6'6" shooting guards with a unique ability to get to the basket. The main difference between the two is that Evans has a larger frame and is able to guard up to three different positions while battling on the glass.
Averaging 16.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game isn't anything new for Evans, either. His career numbers are only about 0.5 less in each category, which proves that he's capable of producing at a consistent rate.
Wroten has a four-year advantage over the 25-year-old Evans, and the Sixers need to evaluate if they want to take on his rather large contract at over $10 million for the next three years. It's also possible that Wroten is a product of his situation in Philadelphia and the amount of playing time he's getting.
Evans has shown that he's capable of putting up consistent numbers regardless of whether he's in a good or bad situation with his team. He would likely be the better man moving forward, simply because he's done what he is currently doing for so long.
Future First-Round Pick: This Is Philly We're Talking About
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Philadelphia will probably end up having two first-round selections in the 2015 draft. It has its own that will likely land in the top five, as well as the Miami Heat's if it doesn't fall between Nos. 1 and 10.
Expect to see the Sixers look to make some kind of move that gives them another first-round pick in one of the next few years. Hinkie values draft picks almost as much as any players already in the league.
The issue in this situation: Who will Philly give up in return for a first-rounder?
One possible scenario would be to throw someone like Wroten or Covington into the mix with a second-round pick or two. Giving them to a team who feels like it needs the final piece to become a contender could be enough to persuade it to give up something as valuable as a selection in the top 30 of a draft.
Regardless how it happens, though, don't be surprised to see something take place in order to get a future first-rounder. It could be likely to actually fall through, as the Sixers don't have many weapons to give up, but the facts are still the same.
Hinkie loves draft picks and will do almost anything necessary to get any in the first round.
Brandon Knight: Long-Term Answer at Point Guard
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If you're on the "trade Michael Carter-Williams" team, then there isn't a better player to take over the Sixers than someone like Brandon Knight.
After struggling to find his place at point guard in his first three seasons, Knight has clearly grounded himself as the leader of the Milwaukee Bucks. Averages of 18.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game show he's nearly as versatile as Carter-Williams is. The advantage to Knight is that he provides slightly fewer turnovers on top of a much higher shooting percentage.
Carter-Williams only shoots 39.8 percent from the field, whereas Knight is at 45.1. The other major difference comes when you compare his 23.7 three-point percentage to Knight's at 40.0. You don't have to look too closely in order to see how Knight could be the better point guard moving forward.
The last and potentially most crucial thing to think about is the fact that this is only Carter-Williams' second season. The 23-year-old is definitely improving but is still the exact same age as Knight, who is in his fourth year in the league.
Now, it's important to remember that this and any potential trades involving Carter-Williams come from an almost entirely speculative place. He has done a fantastic job as Philadelphia's point guard in his nearly two seasons with the team and in the league. Carter-Williams was last year's Rookie of the Year and has every chance at being the Sixers' point guard of the future.
If he's not traded for someone like Knight, that is.
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