3 early predictions for 76ers at the NBA Trade Deadline
By Jakob Ashlin
2. Nicolas Batum will not be traded
It's been a small sample size, but Batum has been outstanding in Philadelphia. The Sixers are scoring +19.6 points more per 100 possessions with Batum on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Individually, that is the third-best mark in the NBA, behind only Nikola Jokic and Joe Ingles.
Batum's skillset is perfect for the modern NBA. He is a reliable 3-point shooter (40.1 percent since 2020), and his length and mobility allow him to guard multiple positions with ease. He is an ideal fit in the frontcourt alongside Embiid and Harris.
If the Sixers make a big move at the deadline, Batum does not have to be included. The Sixers have a wide collection of expiring contracts (Morris, Covington, Melton, Korkmaz, House, Martin). So, they could package together other players such as Morris ($17.1 million), Covington ($11.6 million), and Korkmaz ($5.3 million) to match salaries for a larger deal.
On the court, Batum is more impactful than Morris, but the 34-year-old Batum would be a strange fit for rebuilding squads. So, I would not expect rebuilding teams to hold out in negotiations for the veteran.
It is worth noting that the players acquired in the Harden trade (Morris, Covington, Batum, Martin) cannot be traded until Dec. 31, but that should not prevent any deadline deals.