NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 crazy trades to remake the 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers walk to the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 12, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Cavaliers 98-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 20: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game on December 20, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. The Zinger

As far as one-for-one player swaps go, this would among the few that are even mildly feasible ahead of the 2020 NBA trade deadline that would downright break Twitter. But at the same time, it’s also a trade that also might benefit both the 76ers and Dallas Mavericks with what they would like to do moving forward.

Make no mistake, both of these teams are fine right now and are near-locks to make the playoffs this season. How far they’re going to be able to go in the postseason is the issue, however. Putting Kristaps Porzingis on this Philadelphia roster would and pairing Embiid with Luka Doncic might make a run through the playoffs more easily conceived for both of these squads.

For as unique of a talent as Joel Embiid is, Porzingis is in the same unicorn mold, though in a vastly different way. The 7-foot-3 big man wouldn’t clog up the interior working alongside Simmons and, in fact, would help to space the floor from the position as a 35.6 percent 3-point shooter for his career. Adding that with Harris, Horford and Simmons keeps the 76ers as an intimidatingly lengthy team but the way they work together, on paper, seems like an upgrade over Embiid.

While Porzingis and Doncic have clearly thrived this season, the simple fact of the matter is that head coach Rick Carlisle is a pick-and-roll man at his heart. That type of play with Doncic becomes exponentially more dangerous if he’s running those sets with Embiid. And though Porzingis is an enticing talent, Dallas then becomes a more attractive free agency destination with the Doncic-Embiid pairing to help round out a contending roster.