Jason Burgos
A top NBA insider gave some major updates on the Philadelphia 76ers potentially making a blockbuster trade for stars such as Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, and Pascal Siakam. As well as their current strategy before Feb. 8.
The 2023-24 NBA season has gone far better than the Sixers could have hoped for. Despite the drama they dealt with all summer and during training camp, as James Harden sought out an exit from Philly, the team has been one of the very best not only in the Eastern Conference but the entire NBA.
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Joel Embiid is playing as well, if not better, than his MVP campaign from last season. Tyrese Maxey has taken another leap forward into becoming a legitimate All-Star caliber player. Several role players they landed in the Harden trade have been helpful additions. And new head coach Nick Nurse had proven he was not the problem in Toronto over the last couple of seasons.
However, for as good as the Philadelphia 76ers are (23-12 record), there are still some doubts if they can overcome the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs. That is why there has been a lot of speculation about the possibility of the organization swinging a blockbuster deal for another star.
Dejounte Murray a more likely Philadelphia 76ers trade addition than Zach LaVine
On Saturday, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein gave a major update on where the team stands in the trade market via his newsletter. When it comes to links of a move for Bulls star Zach LaVine or Raptors impending free agent Pascal Siakam, Stein claims “a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking told me again this week that the Sixers should not be expected to pursue either player.”
Yet, he did add that fellow insider Chris Haynes revealed this week that the organization should be seen a real contender for Hawks guard Dejounte Murray — along with the Lakers and Knicks. In the end, Stein claims the franchise wants to be very careful in how they use the assets they already had or acquired in the Harden trade, as well as their cap flexibility this summer.
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“The Sixers are looking to be judicious with their future draft picks and projected salary-cap space this summer, which is an approach they’ve been emboldened to take thanks to Tyrese Maxey’s emergence as a potential All-Star in the East alongside Embiid.
“The Sixers are still expected to explore potential trades over the next five or so weeks that do raise their current team’s ceiling … but the strong sense I’ve gotten is that they want to be careful with future flexibility as they continue to build around Embiid and Maxey. ‘Thoughtful’ is how it was expressed to me.”
– Marc Stein
The insider also says that Philadelphia 76ers general manager Daryl Morey sees “a two-way player with playmaking capabilities” as the perfect addition before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.
