Philadelphia 76ers: Cross Collin Sexton off the hypothetical trade list

There are roughly 510 players in the NBA at any given time, 450 on regular rosters and 60 more on two-way contracts.

Why, you may ask, is this relevant? Well, because according to The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers have a list of at least 30 players that they would accept back in a trade for Ben Simmons.

That’s both a large and decidedly small number, as it accounts for roughly 5.8 percent of the league, but it doesn’t tell the full story of the situation. Take, for example, the report from Keith Pompey, who said that the Sixers have discussed a package centered around Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk, and a pick in exchange for Simmons (more on that here). Is just Grant on the list of 30 players? How about Bey? The inclusion of Olynyk is likely only for financial purposes, but is he on Daryl Morey’s list too, or does he have a separate evaluator for such players?

Either way, one player who is no longer on the Philadelphia 76ers’ trade targets list – if he was at all – is Collin Sexton, who just had season-ending surgery on a torn meniscus.

Cross Collin Sexton off the Philadelphia 76ers’ acquisitions list.

Collin Sexton had long been a favorite acquisition target among many a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers.

He plays the game with that sort of blue-collar attitude the City of Brotherly Love exudes, has a tireless drive to improve with each passing season, and, most crucially of all, is willing to attack the bucket in any situation regardless of how close it is to the final buzzer.

Sure, Sexton has his flaws, remains a bit of a defensive liability, and has garnered a largely earned reputation for being a ball hog, but you’ll seldom see a game where the pride of Alabama doesn’t leave it all on the court, which is really all fans around these parts want from their professional athletes.

Unfortunately, Sexton quite literally left it all on the court on November 7th, when he suffered an injury eventually diagnosed as a torn meniscus that required surgery and will cost him the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season.

Needless to say, that stinks for all parties involved.

Removing the Sixers’ potential trade interest for a moment, Sexton and the Cavs failed to come to terms on a contract extension earlier this year and he will now enter restricted free agency eight-ish months removed from a devastating injury. Sure, some team may still express interest in his services this summer, but in all likelihood, Sexton will almost certainly have to play next season on a qualifying offer worth $8.5 million while attempting to rehab both his knee and reputation.

Is it possible? Sure, just ask Kevin Durant, but for a 6-foot-1 guard like Sexton, his durability will be a major talking point in future contract discussions for at least the next season or two, especially since most of his game is based on athleticism.

Could Collin Sexton still end up with the Philadelphia 76ers at some point down the line? Sure, if his market is as non-existent as Andre Drummond‘s was last season, Daryl Morey should swoop in a secure his services on the cheap, financially speaking, but in 2021-22, when the Philadelphia 76ers need immediate, high-end contributors in a trade for Ben Simmons, fans can collectively cross Sexton off their list.