Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 2, 76ers and Trail Blazers
In the lead up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, we’re taking all 30 teams and finding mutually beneficial partners. Every day will offer up a new deal with two new consorts. It’s kinda like the 12 days of Christmas, but instead of hens-a-laying and pear trees and useless nonsense from your true love, you’re getting fake trades from me for a much higher holy day: the NBA trade deadline. Strap in tight, it’s trading season!
The second day of Tradesmas takes aim at two squads fighting for low-end playoff spots in their respective conferences.
For the past four seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers have been a team with an offensively dynamic backcourt and obvious flaws. In that time, they’ve only been as high as the 4-seed once and made it to the second round twice. Over the same span, the Philadelphia 76ers were in the throes of The Process, actively trying to avoid the situation the Trail Blazers find themselves in now — a borderline playoff team with no realistic shot at winning a title.
The 76ers are currently on the outside looking in for the postseason, but they can probably leapfrog some teams if they tackle their biggest need.
The Trade:
Why the 76ers do it:
Philadelphia desperately needs a guard who can create his own shot. Markelle Fultz was supposed to be that guy, but he’s been an abject trainwreck so far due to a shoulder injury. It’s very early and sports analysis constantly falls into the trap of knee-jerk, hot-take culture, which means 19-year-old rookies who don’t contribute right away are automatically busts. Let’s relax and let the guy get healthy before burying him.
Having said that, CJ McCollum is the perfect player for the 76ers. He fits their needs and is young enough to grow alongside their core. Also, have you seen the footage of Fultz shooting in practice? Yuck. He looks like the Monstars stole his playing abilities. I take back my previously level-headed stance. Maybe Philly should be trying to jump ship as fast as they can.
Read More: The Sixers will go as far as Embiid can take them this season
Bryan Colangelo was brought in as team president to chew gum and take the 76ers to the postseason, and he’s all out of gum. Getting McCollum for Fultz, Dario Saric and Amir Johnson’s $11 million cadaver would give them the talent advantage over the teams in front of them like the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.
Assuming full health, a lineup of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, J.J. Redick and McCollum would strike fear into the heart of any opponent come playoff time.
Why the Trail Blazers do it:
What is Portland’s ultimate ceiling under their current construct? The 6-seed in the West? A puncher’s chance at getting to the second round? They don’t have much upside or ways to discernibly improve internally, and their cap is a mess.
The Trail Blazers made a bunch of regrettable signings over the past few seasons and built a team of pieces that don’t make sense. McCollum’s contract isn’t the problem since he’s actually a productive player, but they need salary relief any way they can take it.
Doing this trade would shave $3.5 million off their books this year and $11 million after the season with Johnson’s expiring contract. Saric is still on his very friendly rookie deal for two years after this one. If they can wade through the ambiguous fog of the shoulder injury and get the hitches out of his shot, Fultz could develop into the star he was supposed to be and raise the ceiling for the Trail Blazers.
Next: Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 1, Cavaliers and Mavericks
It’s definitely too early to give up on Fultz, the consensus No. 1 pick just months ago. Portland would be betting on his capacious promise and not the dismal, discouraging clips of him we’ve seen so far. Just remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the Fultz.