The Philadelphia 76ers can get started on their quest for upgrades around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as the NBA trade season officially begins. The type of player they will be giving priority to in the upcoming weeks has been outlined in recent updates.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick published a new column on Monday morning detailing the rumors he has been hearing. He mentioned that the Sixers are looking for a two-way player rather than a player with a strong offensive game, such as Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
“While their focus might have been on an offense-first player like LaVine in the preseason, the unexpected improvement in their post-Harden offense makes it more likely they’ll target a high-end two-way player heading into the Feb. 8 trade deadline,” Amick wrote.
When analyzing this particular phrasing, two players immediately spring to mind. The first is OG Anunoby, a forward for the Toronto Raptors. He fits this description and is a player the Sixers have been associated with since the Harden trade.
Anunoby is shooting 39% from beyond the arc and averaging 15.5 points and 1.0 rebounds so far this season. Fit-wise, he is a player who can play a dangerous offensive game and handle prestigious perimeter defensive assignments.
Another player who could fit this description is Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell. Following some recent injuries to their key players, the explosive guard could end up becoming available. Mitchell has played in 21 games this year and is posting averages of 27.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 5.5 APG.
The Sixers have established themselves as a defensive team thanks to the addition of tough veterans like Patrick Beverley and defensive-minded coach Nick Nurse. They clearly don’t want to deviate from this as they look for potential upgrades in order to be competitive in the playoff push..
Anunoby and Mitchell are both excellent two-way players. When they do become available, Daryl Morey will definitely pursue both of these aggressively.