Shams: 76ers Will Be 'Active' at Trade Deadline; Not Pursuing Murray, LaVine, Siakam
January 17, 2024
Having won three straight games to maintain their grasp on the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are exploring their options leading up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
Appearing on FanDuel TV's Run It Back, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium said the Sixers plan to be "active" at the deadline, but they aren't expected to pursue top trade targets like Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine or Pascal Siakam.
Run It Back @RunItBackFDTV"There's going to be options for them [Sixers] in the summer, they have a bunch of assets, remember they got two first round picks from the Clippers."<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> on if the Sixers will look to add front court depth.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g">https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g</a> <a href="https://t.co/tkkoTPAw2B">pic.twitter.com/tkkoTPAw2B</a>
Siakam may not even be on the market for too much longer. Charania and Sam Amick reported on Tuesday the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers are "actively engaged" in trade talks involving the two-time All-Star.
The deal would send Siakam to Indiana in exchange for a package that includes three first-round draft picks and Bruce Brown Jr., along with other players to make the money match.
Murray has been a fairly recent addition to the trade-deadline pool, with The Athletic's John Hollinger reporting on Sunday that some people in the NBA believe a deal is "getting close to the finish line" at this point.
Per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, the Atlanta Hawks are seeking two first-round draft picks in a deal for Murray. The Sixers could make that happen after acquiring a first-round pick and a 2029 pick swap from the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden trade.
The fit with Murray and Tyrese Maxey doesn't seem like a natural one. Murray has struggled to share backcourt responsibilities with Trae Young in Atlanta.
LaVine's market is basically the shrug emoji because everyone knows he's available, but no teams seem particularly interested due to the money it would cost to add his contract.
The Sixers are in a good spot where they don't have to make a panic move for a big name. Maxey's ascent to being an All-Star-caliber player takes a lot of pressure off Daryl Morey and the front office.
Instead, Morey can look to see which high-end role players who can fill in some of the margins on the 76ers roster become available in the next few weeks and make a move.
There's still one big move the Sixers probably have to make if they want to get on the same level with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, but that player will presumably be easier to find in the offseason than right now.