Morey’s Sixers party isn’t over yet
The Sixers look to be in a pretty comfortable position but that doesn’t mean the team can’t improve. Thankfully, when Daryl Morey banished Al Horford Oklahoma City, he created an $8.2 million trade exception by doing so.
Trade exceptions allow teams to trade for one or more players without trading any of their own players as long as the incoming salary isn’t greater than the trade exception plus $100,000.
Sixers Trade Exception Targets
We’ve already taken a look at five players the Sixers could target with their trade exception. Now, we take a look at five more players the Sixers could pursue.
Danuel House/Ben McLemore
First up is a double feature out of Houston. Danuel House and Ben McLemore are likely on the trading block with Harden out of town. McLemore is by far the more valuable of the two while House is more likely to be available.
House is likely not thought of too fondly in Houston after his “mishap” during the team’s time in the NBA bubble. Aside from that, he’s having a down year early on.
Shooting 20% from three on 3.8 attempts, House would be a bit of a reclamation project. He could be worth a late second-round pick in an attempt to add some depth.
Again, McLemore could be the real prize of the two. An athletic yet undersized two-guard, McLemore has shot very well early on this season. shooting 50% from three on 5.5 attempts, McLemore could be a quality bench piece right from the get-go.
The 27-year-old would probably come at a higher price due to his level of play this year but he may be well worth it. The Sixers could likely get him for a quality second-round pick (from the NYK for instance), or the Sixers could package two (or more) second-picks for both of the Houston wings.
Juancho Hernangomez
The Sixers have a need at backup power forward and while they may be able to solve that in free agency, the team may turn to the trade market.
A rebounding/floor-spacing specialist, Hernangomez would be an ideal fit assuming he finds his old form. The Sixers would likely make the deal banking on his upside.
At 25 years old, Hernangomez still has room to grow and is locked into a three-year deal worth $21 million all said and done. Juancho would be an investment of sorts for Philadelphia who could contribute now and hopefully develop more and more over time.
Hernangomez would be a quality pick-up from a Timberwolves team that looks nowhere near competitive. The going price may not be too much considering the state of affairs in Minnesota. Juancho could certainly be worth a flyer.
Denzel Valentine/Garret Temple
If there’s one thing every NBA team needs, it’s wing depth. The Sixers, unfortunately, lack that, opting for more combo guards (another necessity).
In Denzel Valentine and/or Garret Temple, the Sixers have an opportunity to add quality 3-and-D wing to the bench. Valentine a versatile shooter, Temple, a grizzled veteran.
Valentine is off to a decent start to the season averaging seven points in 18 minutes while shooting 39.4% from three. His basketball IQ is a bit lacking but he could provide some quality minutes relieving Danny Green and Seth Curry.
While the 27-year-old could be a quality addition for Philly and the team could opt for both, if the choice is down to one, the preferred option should be Temple. He is an even more impressive shooter with a crafty IQ and offers more size than Valentine.
Either player would likely only cost a second-round pick. At that price, it should be a no-brainer for the Sixers. Temple should be at the top of the teams’ list (at least among these five), and while’ fans are presumably pining after very different Bull, adding Temple could be huge for the team.
In either case, making a move for some extra depth should be in the team’s cards sooner rather than later.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
