Ranking 76ers' Top Trade Targets After 2026 NBA Playoff Loss
The Philadelphia 76ers ended their 2025-26 NBA season just as they've finished too many in recent memory: hovering near the championship conversation but perhaps not all the way in it.
You wonder whether this will be the exit that spurs the Sixers into making wholesale changes. You also have to question the viability of any break-from-the-norm exit strategy, since Philly's highest-priced players aren't reliable enough to have even neutral value on the trade market.
The Sixers might be effectively stuck, at least for the short-term. Making the money work on any kind of swap would be a number-crunching nightmare. And if the franchise is shifting toward revolving its strategies around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, then there's probably no urgency for a substantial, win-right-now swap anyway.
That said, if the Sixers want to shore up some rough edges, there are upgrades to be found along the margins.
3. Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves
1 of 3
A dynamic wing who impacts both ends of the floor should rank high on Philly's wish list. That's also one of the most coveted archetypes around the Association and one that's almost never available at less than a significant price.
Terrence Shannon Jr., to be clear, is not that kind of player. Yet. But with his tools and talent, why can't he become one?
Well, the Wolves might point to his age (26 this summer) and forgettable first two seasons as evidence, but that would also mean their hope in him is fading. And if that's the case, then the Sixers might sense some bargain potential if they trust their developmental staff to make better use of his abilities.
It'd be an optimistic wager, but it may not be without merit. He's an aggressive, generally efficient downhill attacker and has all of the physical tools to be a pesky, versatile defensive deterrent. And he isn't old in NBA years, as his career odometer shows just 75 regular-season contests.
2. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
2 of 3
Joel Embiid's game count for the last three campaigns is as follows: 39, 19 and 38. Ninety-five of a possible 246 appearances. That's it.
So, clearly the Sixers need an ultra-reliable backup behind him, right? Absolutely. The issue is they can only pay that player so much since Embiid is set to collect a cool $58 million next season (and more than $62 million in each of the following two).
Free agency could lure Andre Drummond away, and even if it doesn't, Philly might want a more permanent solution. Yves Missi could provide that stability.
He's young, long, super bouncy and active on the interior at both ends. He's also apparently expendable for the Pelicans, since they've seemingly made every effort not to start him, whether that's trading up for Derik Queen, signing Kevon Looney or going small with Zion Williamson at center. If New Orleans isn't sold on Missi, Philly should find out what it'd take to pry him loose.
1. Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards
3 of 3
Assuming the Sixers have stars to support, they should be shopping for team-first hustlers to fill in the cracks around them.
That's basically where Justin Champagnie is excelling already, and that's without Washington putting actual stars alongside him.
He's an all-in-your-airspace defender and relentless rebounder who makes good decisions and takes smart shots. His three-ball comes and goes, but he doesn't force things that aren't in his arsenal. That's why he's a 6'6" reserve wing who just shot better than 50 percent from the field in back-to-back seasons on one of the league's worst offenses.
This can be a difficult play style to evaluate in a challenging (see: shamelessly tanking) environment, but he might be one trade away from being regarded as an invaluable glue guy. The Sixers would be smart to make that trade before another savvy win-now shopper beats them to it.
