76ers Trade Rumors: Philadelphia 'Acting as Buyers' Entering 2018 NBA Deadline

The process has reportedly reached the stage in Philadelphia where the 76ers will become buyers.

On Monday, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reported the 76ers "are acting as buyers" before Thursday's trade deadline even though they have just one additional first-round pick remaining to potentially move. He suggested the lack of extra first-rounders "might limit their purchasing power to whatever they can nab for second-rounders."

The shift into buyer mode is likely a welcome one for Philadelphia fans considering the team hasn't made the playoffs since the 2011-12 season as it accumulated young talent with favorable draft picks during five consecutive losing campaigns.

The 76ers are 25-25 and sitting in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.

However, it is a precarious position because they are tied with the Detroit Pistons for that final spot and just 3.5 games ahead of the 10th-seeded Charlotte Hornets. They are also two games behind the seventh-seeded Miami Heat, so a timely addition could help them fend off Detroit and Charlotte while potentially making a move up the standings to avoid a first-round matchup with the No. 1 seed.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are franchise building blocks and figure to give Philadelphia an inside-out combination in the starting lineup for years to come if they remain healthy. There are also solid surrounding pieces in place with JJ Redick, Dario Saric and Robert Covington.

Philadelphia likely isn't going to land a franchise-altering piece if it is strictly dealing in second-rounders, but it needs help on the bench.

It is a mere 29th in the league in bench offensive rating, per NBA.com, and Embiid and Simmons will need reinforcements if they are going to qualify for the postseason and make some noise when they get there.