The 2018 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
By Ian Levy
Philadelphia 76ers
Sending out: Jerryd Bayless (UTA)
Bringing in: Joffrey Lauvergne (SAS), Brandan Wright (MEM)
The Philadelphia 76ers are having a fantastic season. They could make the playoffs. They could have the Rookie of the Year. They could have Joel Embiid make an All-NBA team. But the future of the 76ers is still way more important than their present. Markelle Fultz may not see the floor for the rest of the season and next year, when Fultz is back, Embiid has shed his minute restrictions, and Simmons has a year under his belt is when the rubber really meets the road.
Preparations for next season could also include some dramatic reworkings of the 76ers rotation. J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson are both on expiring deals and Philadelphia will have some serious cap room to play with. This deal just clears a little more. The 76ers won’t need Bayless next season and this clears a little more than $6 million with Brandan Wright’s expiring. More room for the next big move.