The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in the midst of their annual “most crucial offseason in decades,” and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has just stoked the rumor mill flames. According to O’Connor’s sources, the Sixers have been shopping veteran Danny Green and the 23rd pick in the NBA draft.
Green is currently recovering from a torn ACL and LCL received in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat. According to Green himself, he should be ready to play sometime in the second half of the NBA season, but Daryl Morey and the 76ers can’t afford to sit back. The team must be aggressive this offseason, and taking advantage of Green’s $10 million deal is one way to do that. The Sixers already face a tough moral decision regarding whether or not to guarantee Green’s 2022-23 salary. Trading Green could be the perfect alternative choice.
Along with Green, the 23rd pick in the 2022 NBA draft is being shopped. By packaging the two together, the Sixers are hoping to land an impact player who can contribute in both the regular and postseason. Considering the wing-depth in this draft, it can be argued that trading the 23rd pick would be foolish, and there is a strong argument to be made. When one takes into account Doc Rivers’ track record with rookies, however, securing a legitimate veteran impact player makes sense, but who?
If Danny Green and the 23rd pick are truly on the block, here are three possible trades the Philadelphia 76ers could make.
Before diving in, it’s important to take a quick look at what the team is in need of. If the playoff taught anyone anything, it’s that the Sixers are clearly lacking shooting, athleticism, and, most importantly, toughness. Star Joel Embiid addressed the team’s lack of toughness in great length immediately following the team’s second-round loss to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.
In any deal involving the 23rd pick, the Philadelphia 76ers must get at least one of these attributes back. Ideally, they would receive two or more of these attributes in one deal.
1. Philly adds some grit
Joel Embiid was not only loud and clear, but he was also correct when he called out the Sixers’ toughness earlier this year — although he could have gone about it another way. Philadelphia needs to add an impactful hustle, a player with attitude, a P.J. Tucker type. One such player is Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale.
Since going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, O’Neale has worked diligently to focus on providing defensive intensity and expanding his range. Flash forward seven years, and O’Neale is now the very definition of a 3-and-D wing. O’Neale’s defensive ability has rarely been questioned, and last season he enjoyed a career-high in both three-point percentage (38.9 percent) and three-point attempts per game (4.0).
Beyond just his two-way ability, O’Neale brings the grit and hustle that this Sixers team sorely needs. His attitude may get the best of him on occasion, but more often than not, he’s an instigator and an energizer, or in other words, just what the 76ers need.
The Utah Jazz are a team at their own crossroads. Having just lost their head coach of eight years, Quin Snyder, the Jazz now face the difficult task of choosing between their two stars. To further complicate things, one star may force his way out while the other plays the most difficult position to build around. All in all, not ideal for Utah, but it’s just the sort of opportunity the Sixers could take advantage of, especially since the Jazz are without a first-round pick.
2. “KCP from three”
This is not the trade that Philadelphia 76ers fans want to see between their team and the Washington Wizards, but it’s the one that makes sense. While the Sixers are still expected to pursue Wizards star Bradley Beal in free agency, it also wouldn’t be surprising to see the team target his current teammate, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Over the past five seasons, Caldwell-Pope, known as KCP, has been one of the more consistent 3-and-D role players in the NBA. KCP was a key role player for the Los Angeles Lakers during their championship run in the NBA’s bubble season alongside the Sixers’ Danny Green.
In Philadelphia, KCP would be the successor to Green as the two-way starting small forward for the 2022-23 season and hopefully beyond should the team and he agree on an extension. Not just the successor, in fact, but a more youthful version of what Green provided the Sixers. Time would tell if he could be the vocal leader that Green was, but at least on the court, he’s a worthy follow-up.
Targeting, not just a player like KCP, but specifically KCP, makes too much sense for the 76ers. The fit is just too clean to fail. He’s everything the team is looking for in a wing, and while he alone won’t solve every problem, it’s a great start. You can already hear it; Joel Embiid passes to the corner out of a double team, Caldwell-Pope rises, releases, and as the ball falls through the bottom of the net: “KCP for three!”
3. Reunited and it feels so good
After a more than disappointing postseason performance, newly acquired Sixers star James Harden had few people still openly praising him. Former teammate Patrick Beverley was not only one of these rare supporters but also one of the most vocal.
Last month, Beverley went on quite the interesting press tour where he made many memorable statements. From taking multiple shots at the Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul to hinting at a trade to Miami and, of course, his stance on what type of contract James Harden deserves, Beverley gave his opinion to all who would listen. Once teammates for half of a decade, now is their chance to reunite.
While a backup guard is far from the Sixers’ top need, it still is a need and what’s more important is what Beverley brings to the team’s locker room. There’s some debate about the legitimacy of Beverley’s “tough guy” persona, but that’s the case for any tough NBA player from Marcus Morris to Marcus Smart; basically, anyone not names Steven Adams. Beverley is the type of loud-mouthed hype man that every contender needs, and he would also boast a skillset the 76ers need.
On the long list of needs for the Philadelphia 76ers appear the following: shooting, perimeter defense, and passing ability. This is in addition to toughness and grit. Patrick Beverley provides all of this, more than he’s gotten credit for in the past. Known for his trash-talking and pest-like defensive ability, Beverley has gone under the radar as a shooter over his career. The ten-year veteran has averaged 37.8% from three on 4.2 attempts per game during his time in the league.
The position may not be the Sixers’ greatest need, but the team is certainly in need of everything Beverley brings to the table.