5 Scorers the 76ers Should Trade for to Survive Joel Embiid’s Absence
The Philadelphia 76ers need to bring some offensive reinforcements in Joel Embiid's absence before it's too late.
By Cem Yolbulan
The Philadelphia 76ers were hit with the devastating news last week that Joel Embiid was going to miss significant time following a meniscus procedure. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks, so whether he is done for the season or not is currently unclear.
What is clear, however, is the fact that the Sixers need reinforcements ahead of the February 8 trade deadline to survive their MVP's absence.
Obviously, the Sixers aren't going to be able to entirely replace Embiid's combination of historical scoring volume and efficiency. But, as things stand now, Tyrese Maxey is the only Sixer on the roster who can effectively create his shot.
The team needs more creation, playmaking, and scoring. Fortunately for the Sixers, there are plenty of options on the trade market that could fill their need.
DeMar DeRozan
The All-Star swingman is exactly what the Sixers need for the rest of the season. DeRozan is certainly not the player he was in his prime, but the 34-year-old is still a masterful scorer.
The Chicago Bulls small forward is having a down season, with his scoring and efficiency numbers having fallen across the board. But, he is still a reliable offensive weapon who doesn't miss any games and is playing over 37 minutes per contest this season, averaging 22 points and 5.4 assists.
Chicago has already made him available in trade talks and the Sixers have previously expressed interest in DeRozan. Now that he is on an expiring contract, the deal could make more sense for both sides.
The Bulls can receive draft compensation, while the Sixers get a short-term solution to their scoring problem without creating future cap space problems. General manager Daryl Morey wants to keep his powder dry this offseason in terms of cap space, and trading for DeRozan would allow for that as they can choose to retain him for a lower salary or let him walk.
It's hard to see the Sixers doing much better than DeRozan with two days left before the trade deadline.