NBA Draft Rumors: 76ers trying to trade Thaddeus Young, No. 3 pick to Cavaliers for No. 1 pick
It is no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers covet former Kansas Jayhawks’ forward Andrew Wiggins, but they don’t believe he will be there when they get on the clock with the third-overall pick.
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That’s why the 76ers are reportedly trying to trade up in the draft. According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, the 76ers are trying to trade forward Thaddeus Young and their third-overall pick to the Cavaliers for the number one overall pick so they can select Wiggins.
"If Wiggins isn’t on the board for the Sixers, I’m told they’ll take whoever is left between Embiid and Parker……They aren’t willing to give up both the Nos. 3 and 10 picks, but a combination of No. 3 and Thaddeus Young is a possibility……This is a dream scenario for the 76ers. They would take Wiggins at No. 1 if they could, and having him fall to No. 3 would be a godsend. The Sixers actually have engaged the Cavs about moving to No. 1."
Young went for 17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game and shot 45.4% from the field, 30.8% from beyond the arc and 71.2% from the free throw line this season.
It really depends on how much the Cavaliers covet Wiggins or one of former Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid or former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker – one of the two will be available with the third-overall pick provided the 76ers take Wiggins.
Wiggins averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the Jayhawks last season while shooting 44.8% from the field, 34.1% from beyond the arc and 77.5% from the free throw line. Wiggins is ranked as the top prospect in the draft by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express and is projected to go number one overall.