The trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Sixers have a few holes in their roster that they have to fill if they want to contend in the postseason. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued this team early on and put them at the bottom of a tough hill to climb. With their big three playing together more in the last few weeks, they are starting to string together wins and pull themselves up out of the Eastern Conference basement.
Although more wins have been coming in recent weeks, the roster around the big three still needs to be tweaked. As of this moment, they seem to lack playmaking and consistent shooting from the three-point line.
Paul George‘s playmaking has been refreshing and unexpected, but they are 29th in team assists per game. The Sixers are 25th and 21st in three-point percentage and three-point attempts per game, respectively. Take a look at some potential trade targets ranked:
5. Tre Jones
With Chris Paul entrenched as the starter, Jeremy Sochan playing point forward, and Stephon Castle‘s recent emergence, Jones is the odd man out. He’s only playing 16 minutes per game and has career lows in most categories outside of his rookie year. The Sixers could buy low on a young guard, who probably won’t be in the Spurs’ future plans. He has proven he can be a table setter and has pretty decent playmaking chops and that’s something that Philly needs from someone under the age of 34.
Jones averaged just over 6 assists a game, 10 points a game, and shot just under league average from beyond the arc. Jones could take hold of the backup point guard role and play spot minutes with Tyrese Maxey to allow him to play off the ball.
4. Simone Fontecchio
Fontecchio has gained a reputation for being a shooter in his short time in the league. In the last two years in the league, he shot over 40% from three collectively, but this year in Detroit, he has had a down year. He is shooting 34% from beyond the arc, which is still around league average on just over three attempts per game.
Playing on a team with a dominant big who needs willing shooters around him could rekindle his touch. His defense could be a liability, but his shooting, especially from the corners, could keep him on the floor if he was traded to Philadelphia.
3. Corey Kispert
Corey Kispert is another three-point shooter who could really reap the benefits of playing with three stars in Philadelphia. Kispert really doesn’t fit on a team that is tanking and leaning towards the youth movement. He is a high-volume movement shooter who can attack an aggressive closeout, averaging 11 points per game and shooting 34 percent from three on just under six attempts a game.
Kispert is making just over 5 million dollars this season but did sign a rookie extension right before the season started. That extension sets him up to make around 13 million dollars a year for the next four years, starting next season. That could give the Sixers pause on trading for him because they have a ton of money tied up into their stars and players like Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. Would it be worth the Sixers going into the second apron? Maybe, but he could definitely help this team this season and going forward.
2. Davion Mitchell
Davion Mitchell is another small guard, but he is young and could make more of an impact for this team than the veteran guards behind Maxey. Mitchell was drafted to Sacramento into a flurry of guards with Tyrese Haliburton, De’Aaron Fox, and Buddy Hield. He was lost in the sauce initially but got on the court by playing great defense and his ability to use his speed to score.
In Philadelphia, he could be a primary backup for Maxey and a feisty guard on defense pressuring the ball. He has some playmaking chops, averaging 4 assists per game and playing just over 25 minutes per game. He will be a restricted free agent free agent after this season and the Raptors will more than likely let him test the market. It may not even take any assets to get Mitchel,l and if he doesn’t fit, the Sixers can easily let him walk after the season.
1. Santi Aldama
Santi Aldama should be the Sixers’ number-one target as they approach the trade deadline. He’s a 6’11 “forward who would provide size and shooting next to Joel Embiid, providing Philly with much more size in their starting lineup. Aldama and the Memphis Grizzlies did not reach an extension this offseason and could be had with the right assets.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer has mentioned on multiple occasions, including the Still Processing Podcast that Aldama is the type of player that the Sixers could be looking for and could be willing to spend their assets and go over the second apron with an extension.
Aldama is currently averaging 13 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, and 3 assists per game mostly coming off the bench. He’s shooting 39% from three-point on just under five attempts and would more than likely increase his volume in Philly. He is only making 3.9 million dollars this season and if they can get Aldama, they should do it.
