3 Trades the 76ers Can Make Next to Keep Joel Embiid Happy

2. Malcolm Brogdon

Addressing the other starting guard spot is paramount for Philadelphia to seriously contend. De'Anthony Melton is a smart player who makes an impact beyond the box score, but him not being much of an offensive threat will just allow teams to put focus on stopping Maxey.

That has the potential for disaster if the 76ers' lead ball-handler can't create for his team. LaVine, is one obvious solution to this problem, but Malcolm Brogdon provides a cost-friendly answer as well.

Shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason, Brogdon's stop in Rip City is looking like it'll be brief. The Blazers are adopting a full-on youth movement at guard, leaving the veteran as an obstacle in the way of developing Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Brogdon doesn't fit this roster's overall timeline, and his ability to help them win games is actually a negative on a squad eyeing a top draft pick to further its rebuild.

That opens the door for a contending, guard-needy team like the Sixers to save Brogdon from his misery. Though his numbers dipped a bit in 2022-23, that was also in a bench role (which he won the Sixth Man of the Year award for). Before that, he was lead guard for the Indiana Pacers, where he thrived as both a scorer (18.9 PPG over three seasons) and distributor (6.3 APG).

It's easy to see how Brogdon would fit into this starting rotation. He'd provide a dependable veteran to help take the pressure off of Maxey while also not overshadowing the guard in the middle of a possible career breakout. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Brogdon also has the size to make an impact on the boards (5.1 RPG as a Pacer) and on defense (2.2 defensive win shares last season off of the bench).

The numerous ways Brogdon can aid the Sixers' title quest is obvious. He also might not demand as much as a flashier name, which would free some additional assets for other moves down the line.