Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking All 15 Players By Trade Value
The Philadelphia 76ers have gotten off to a 2-10 start, but they still have some tradable options that can improve the long-term stability of this team.
Trades trades trades. Everyone loves the idea of them, until realistic trades fall into place and we dissect what was good or bad about the trades, and what other options the teams had. It’s no different for the Philadelphia 76ers, whose asset collection have put them in somewhat of a predicament.
The movement of big men have been talked about for two years now, starting with the draft selection of center Jahlil Okafor. The team has been in search for a trade partner for either him or Nerlens Noel, but to no avail as of now.
The team already made one trade this season, shipping the valued contract of Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Ersan Ilyasova and a conditional first-round pick. But that move isn’t the move the many were waiting for.
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Let’s go down the list of all 15 players on the roster, and rank them by trade value.
1. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons currently holds the highest trade value of any other Philadelphia 76ers player on the roster. Although yet to play a game due to injury, his positional versatility and potential make him a sought after asset. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Sixers will hold him close for as long as they can.
2. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid’s play has shown why he was considered to be the top talent in the 2013 NBA Draft. His per 36 numbers are historic for a rookie, and his personality is as big as his frame. Embiid is a future star in this league, but what puts him second on this list and not first is clearly his severe foot injury which caused him to sit out two NBA seasons. But he’s another one of those untouchable assets. Good luck trying to pry him away from the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s the star they’ve been looking for.
3. Nerlens Noel
Many thought Noel’s contract situation would hurt his trade value, me included. It seems as though Noel is still drawing interest from teams, including the Toronto Raptors. Noel will rejoin the team Wednesday to rehab from minor surgery, per Derek Bodner of Philly Mag. Noel’s defensive abilities make him an easy fit for any ball club, and an instant contributor to a contending team. Noel could be the easiest asset to move, and with his impending restricted free agency on the horizon, it would be best to move him sooner than later.
4. Dario Saric
Dario Saric hasn’t had the dream start to his playing career that Embiid has enjoyed, but Saric has still shown an important ability to score. His outside game is slightly above average and his passing has the potential to be something special. The flaws in his game are evident, with defense still being a problem and rebounding looking lackadaisical. Saric is in the top tier of rookies and can become a key starter in the league.
5. Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor is the by far the most polarizing player on this roster. Once considered a top talent, Okafor has since fallen off due to injury. His offensive performances have been inconsistent and his defense has improved marginally. Okafor must become the 17 point per game scorer he was last season to regain trade value. That being said, his potential is worth taking a shot on for a bottom-feeder.
6. Robert Covington
Covington’s outside shot has seem to fade away from him. His value is nowhere near its apex, but Covington’s ability to defend the wing and play a competent 3 or 4 make him attractive for teams looking add depth.
7. Gerald Henderson
Henderson is on a fair two-year deal. He’s by no means a game changer, but a veteran wing player off the bench is a commodity many teams yearn for. Henderson has some scoring ability, and his ability to defend the perimeter will bring some interest.
8. Jerryd Bayless
Bayless has yet to play this season, but based on his outside shooting exposé from last season, someone will be willing to take a risk on him. His 3-year, $27 million deal might be a turn-off for some teams, but its not ridiculous enough to make him untradeable.
9. Ersan Ilyasova
Ilyasova is on an expiring contract, and although just traded, he might be a sought after player for playoff teams in need of shooting off the bench.
10. Nik Stauskas
Stauskas, despite being at the brunt of much criticism, has started the season off at an extremely hot rate. Stauskas is 4th in the league in TS% for players who have attempted at least 40 threes and have a 3-point percentage as at least 40%. Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Justin Hamilton are the only ones to lead him. Stauskas is being paid top-10 pick money, and with his great start his contract being a filler for a trade could also be considered a sweetener.
11. Richaun Holmes
Richaun Holmes is an energetic young center with bounce. His aggressiveness is sometimes out of control of sorts. But his ability to get open in the paint and his decent ability to defend make him a valuable. The unproven ability to hit the outside shot is an aspect some teams would take a shot on. In a flooded big man market, it’ll be harder to get good value for a projected backup center.
12. Sergio Rodriguez
Rodriguez has proven he’s a better player than he was a half-decade ago, in his last NBA stint. He’s been a high-volume shooter thus far, averaging 9 field goals attempted per game, but that’s a result of the porous Philadelphia 76ers offense. His one year deal would be happily scooped up by a team in need of a second or third guard.
13. T.J. McConnell
McConnell is on a valued contract and is a high-effort defender. His ineffectiveness in scoring the ball is eased by his smart playmaking.
14. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
TLC is on the first leg of his rookie deal. He’s shown good awareness and a knack for finding the open lanes off the ball in the minimal playing time he has had. A potential sixth man, Luwawu-Cabarrot is not an asset teams will simply look over.
15. Hollis Thompson
Thompson, like Stauskas, has had a great start to the season. He’s morphed from just a catch and shoot guy to a comfortable ball handler when driving to the rim. Thompson’s defense is underwhelming considering his length, but he’s still a nice short-term shooting option.
The Philadelphia 76ers are filled with some valuable trade assets, but only few would be in serious consideration for trades. The big man situation must be sorted out, but some of these other players can serve as sweeteners or trade fillers in a deal involving a large contract gap.