How the Sixers’ 2024 NBA trade deadline could be impacted by the OG Anunoby trade
Will the Sixers still look for a third star before the trade deadline of February 8th, given that one of their rumored top targets is no longer available?
The Sixers’ interest in OG Anunoby has been one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets ever since the James Harden trade. The Sixers were a serious contender to sign him in free agency if the Toronto Raptors failed to transfer him before the trade deadline of February 8th. This was because they were able to free up over $55 million in salary space this summer.
But for the time being, the Raptors are finally starting to dismantle the Sixers’ lackluster core, so they must focus elsewhere. They gave RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round selection (via Detroit) to the New York Knicks in exchange for Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.
Given that Anunoby’s representative, CAA, was formerly where Knicks president Leon Rose worked, it is possible that both parties have an idea of how Anunoby’s free agency will proceed this offseason. The Knicks can’t combine his deal with any other player, so it’s difficult to believe they signed him with the goal of rerouting him by the trade deadline.
The Sixers must find alternative solutions now that Anunoby isn’t available for the foreseeable future—if not for the next few years. In lieu of worrying excessively about acquiring a third star by February 8, the Sixers could be better off sticking with their two-stars-and-depth strategy if Zach LaVine and Pascal Siakam are the top two available players at this year’s deadline
Almost all news outlets and reporters with insider knowledge of the Sixers have refuted the idea of the organization trade for LaVine, with the exception of Shams Charania of The Athletic. It might alter if the Bulls’ asking price drops sufficiently (perhaps their current run has made them realize they can live without LaVine?), but other than that, it seems safe to rule him out as the team’s main trade target.
After Anunoby, Siakam seems to be the next to come out of Toronto. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, league personnel are “certainly prepared for a Siakam trade to follow suit.” “Before the transaction this past weekend, Siakam was the Toronto veteran that opposing executives predicted would be dealt, especially after the team almost traded Siakam to the Atlanta Hawks this summer,” he continued.
The Hawks, Pacers, and Kings are among the teams that Fischer stated “have been routinely mentioned by NBA figures as potential suitors for Siakam.” Remarkably missing from that roster? The Sixers.
Siakam and Nick Nurse may still be at odds about their Toronto relationship. Perhaps because of his infrequent and ineffective three-point shooting, the Sixers aren’t quite sold on his on-court compatibility with Joel Embiid. (On 3.2 shots per game, he has a career long-range shooting percentage of 32.2 percent. That’s hardly what you would expect from Embiid’s perfect frontcourt partner.)
Other criteria include the contract and asking price. This summer, Siakam will be an unrestricted free agent, and it is expected that he would request a long-term max or near-max contract. It makes no sense to trade for him as a half-season rental and take a chance that he won’t be able to secure that kind of deal on the open market the following summer if the Sixers aren’t ready to spend that high. Additionally, the Sixers ought to be much less likely to part with money if the Raptors establish an exorbitant asking price for a potential half-season rental.
The deadline is still one month and change away, so in that time another celebrity could emerge onto the scene. Rumors about James Harden and Kevin Durant didn’t start to surface until this time last year, and Harden’s purported desire in a Houston reunion started on Christmas Day of last year. (The first of numerous warning indications.)
The Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Utah Jazz are now the biggest wild cards that could emerge from trade deadline maneuvers. Beyond the obvious lottery clubs like the Bulls and Raptors, if any of those teams enter a seller’s mindset, it could completely change the dynamics of trade. The Sixers are probably interested in Dejounte Murray, Mikal Bridges, and Lauri Markkanen in different proportions, but the asking prices for each player may be more than they are prepared to spend.
If this is the case, they will need to concentrate on role players who are a step or two below the Embiid-Maxey tandem.
The Sixers need to find someone who can break into the top eight or nine spots in their rotation, thus team president Daryl Morey has stated time and time again that it will be difficult for them to make a trade. Even though their bench has been doing well lately, finding an improvement over players like Robert Covington or Marcus Morris wouldn’t be too difficult.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, head coach Nick Nurse shook his head when asked if the Sixers needed to make a move following the Anunoby trade prior to Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. He cited the team’s depth as the reason it can survive injuries and still be competitive.
He seemed receptive to any advances that might be made, though.
According to Pompey, Nurse stated, “I think you always have to be in the mindset to upgrade at all times.” “There are always places, whether I was coaching the Sixers or the Iowa Energy.” Can you make 10 and 12 better? Can you get better at eight and ten? Can you make three and five better? You’re constantly attempting to accomplish that or acquiring riches to enable you to pursue other endeavors.
Though they might not be as showy as LaVine, Siakam, or Alex Caruso, Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan or Bogdan Bogdanovic, or Royce O’Neale might all aid the Sixers in their attempt to advance past the Eastern Conference playoffs and capture their first title in more than 40 years. The Sixers may need to reevaluate their strategy and concentrate on locating a supplementary player rather than a third star, as Anunoby, one of their top targets, is already off the market.
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