NBA Rumors: 3 Teams that desperately need to make a trade and possible targets
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now, but they have a similar issue to the Lakers. Beating any team on any given night? Sure, the Sixers can win against anyone. In a seven-game series? Probably not. If they want to make it over the hump during the Embiid era they will have to add some firepower before the season ends.
Luckily, the Harden trade gave them some assets they could look to move.
Kyle Kuzma – At 28 years old, I wouldn’t expect the Washington Wizards to want to build around Kuzma moving forward. Adding Kuzma would give the Sixers another legitimate scoring threat as well as some added size. He can stretch the floor and create his own shot, but more importantly, he can help Embiid defend the paint and rebound, an area that Embiid sometimes is left to deal with all on his own.
Zach LaVine – This would essentially be an “all-in” move by the Sixers, as it would probably leave them with little to no assets. However, pairing Lavine with Maxey, who continues to improve, would give this team an elite backcourt. Their scoring would instantly improve, and Lavine is a lot more subdued than some of the other stars they have tried to pair with Embiid in the past.
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Pascal Siakim – Siakim may be the perfect fit for this team. He’s on an expiring deal, but the Sixers have plenty of space to extend him. Moving forward, their “Big Three” would most likely be Maxey, Embiid, and Siakim. Basically, they can afford him, and Siakim gives Embiid much-needed help down low and he can also shift to the 5 when Embiid heads to the bench. An extra 20+ PPG never hurt anybody either.