Grading the Sixers Trade Deadline
Another trade deadline has come and gone. In typical NBA Trade deadline fashion, it was filled with lots of hype with little actual movement. As always, big names were discussed, but most of them stayed put. Plenty of teams, however, made lots of moves on the margins to help boost their chances for the rest of the season. The Philadelphia 76ers were one of those teams, with their name coming up in multiple discussions but ultimately only making one impactful move. Let’s take a look and grade some of those moves.
Trading for George Hill: B+
Landing a player like George Hill for Tony Bradley and two 2nd-round picks is a great bit of business by Daryl Morey and the Sixers. He not only brings steady playmaking reinforcements off the bench whenever Ben Simmons is out, but can play just as well off the ball as a spot up sniper, shooting 38% on the 3pt shots this season. A team with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can never have enough shooting and he brings that in spades as well as floor general skills that Danny Green and Seth Curry lack. In the end, this trade gets a B+ because while George Hill is a great addition and a needle mover for sure, he’s not quite enough to pencil in the Sixers as NBA Champions.
Not Trading for Kyle Lowry: A+++++
A bit excessive? Maybe. But accurate? Absolutely. This was very close to being very bad. Don’t get it twisted, Kyle Lowry is a tremendous player and would have certainly boosted Philly’s chances at a title this season…..but he’s 35 and will be looking for a max deal this summer. Not to mention the asking price was Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey, and TWO first round picks. No matter which way you look at it, this would have been a very bad and very short sighted trade. The Sixers are better off saving those assets for moves that fit their timeline better. While the story of the Philly kid coming back to his hometown would have been great, that story was not going to end happily ever after. Sometimes the best move is the one you never make.
Buyout Market: Incomplete
The buyout market is a situation requiring further monitoring, as players will continue to be bought out over the coming days. Philly will certainly be in the market for 3-and-D wing players to surround their two superstars. One player that should be at the top of their list should be bought out Otto Porter. While indications are he will stay with the Magic, the Sixers should be prepared to pounce if the opportunity presents itself, as he would provide them with a big wing capable of defending multiple positions and knocking down 3’s when needed.
Final Grade: A
All in all, this was a rather uneventful deadline for the 76ers. They were linked to a lot of potential deals, but in the end didn’t panic and force a deal they didn’t need to make. They addressed an area of need in George Hill at a low cost and added to a roster that is already #1 in the East. Well done.