After exploring three low-level trades that would help the Sixers make a deeper push into the playoffs, it’s now time to look at two trades that would bring in high-impact players. No more bargain bucket steals, it’s time to get juicy.
Sixers find the perfect complement
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Harrison Barnes
Sacramento Kings receive: Danny Green, Matisse Thybulle and a 2021 1st round pick
I have been riding the Harrison Barnes train for as long as I can remember. He is a perfect complementary wing who can score from all three levels as well as defend multiple positions. Barnes has been considered overpaid for the last few years but that shouldn’t take away from what he does provide.
Barnes is averaging 16.2 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. He has championship experience after winning it all with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and he’s proven to be a great teammate over the years.
The 28-year-old would be extremely interchangeable on both offense and defense with Tobias Harris and he’d give the Sixers a defensive upgrade over Danny Green on the wing. Between Simmons, Barnes, and Harris, the Sixers shouldn’t have any issues getting production out of their forward spots. Barnes is also locked under contract for the next three years so the Sixers would have their starting five solidified for the next few seasons.
For the Kings, getting out of the three-year, $60.8 million dollar contract would give them more cap flexibility moving forward. Barnes is a long-term commitment and it isn’t one the Kings should be tied to if they’re trying to build around DeAron Fox and his timeline. Getting a young defensive wing in Matisse Thybulle and a first-rounder would be a big get here for them and Danny Green would be a solid veteran to help mentor the young guys for a season. The Kings would find themselves with a much clearer picture of the future if they were to ship Barnes out to Philadelphia.
Another dominant vet
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Derrick Rose and Wayne Ellington
Detroit Pistons receive: Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, Matisse Thybulle, and a 2021 1st round pick
The Sixers need a few different things at the moment but one of the priorities at the top of their list should be to find more scoring and shooting. That is where Derrick Rose and Wayne Ellington come in.
Rose is one of the best second unit players in the league. He’s currently producing 14.6 points and 4.4 assists for a lowly Pistons team. Rose has become an adequate three-point shooter in the twilight of his career, shooting 34.2% on 2.7 attempts this season. He’d take some of the playmaking pressure off Ben Simmons and give them a proven perimeter shot creator. He’d also be a much-welcomed addition to Doc River’s bench, where he would form one of the best bench scoring combos with Shake Milton.
Ellington would be an excellent pick up for Philly as well. He’s averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting a whopping 53.2% from downtown, both of which are career highs. He’d give Philly a pure shooter to pair with Embiid or Simmons whenever Seth Curry has to take a break. Rose and Ellington would give Philly’s bench a major boost and give them a second unit that’d be capable of carrying the offense whenever Embiid has to sit.
The Pistons are undergoing a full-on rebuild and will likely seek to get an asset for Rose while also selling high on Ellington. Matisse Thybulle and Terrance Ferguson would be terrific pickups to mix into their youthful core and they’d add another young prospect using Philly’s first-round pick. Mike Scott shouldn’t be overlooked here either. He embodies the “Bad Boy Pistons” attitude and would give them a nice stretch forward off their bench. This seems like a match made in heaven for both sides.
Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
