It might not be the splash move most anticipated the Philadelphia 76ers making this summer, but the up-and-coming team is on the verge of bolstering its depth.
According to Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports, Philadelphia is closing in on a deal with the Denver Nuggets for veteran forward Wilson Chandler.
The Philadelphia 76ers are in close discussions on deal to acquire Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2018
Chandler, 31, has long been on the trade block. That was brought to a new level earlier this week when Denver re-signed Will Barton and Nikola Jokic, putting itself well over the luxury tax threshold.
A first-round pick of the New York Knicks back in 2007, Chandler averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds while hitting on 36 percent of his three-point attempts this past season. That came on the heels of a 2016-17 campaign in which the forward averaged a career-best 15.7 points per.
From a Nuggets perspective, this this was a straight salary dump. They send draft pick compensation to the Sixers in order for Philadelphia to absorb Chandler’s contract.
The 76ers are acquiring Wilson Chandler, a 2021 second round pick and the rights to swap 2022 second round picks with the Nuggets for minimal cash considerations, per source.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 3, 2018
In reality, Chandler is an upgrade as a two-way option over a player in Marco Belinelli who Philadelphia lost in free agency to the Spurs this past weekend.