Here are three trade possibilities for the 76ers to consider before the NBA trade deadline on February 6, 2025. Coming into the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were considered one of the most probable teams to execute a significant deal. Now, with a losing record and doubt about the team’s potential to make the playoffs, it’s harder to predict what they’ll do before the NBA trade deadline in 2025. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, as well as a few other players, have long-term contracts. They still want to try to contend for a title with this core, but this season will not end with them hoisting the Larry
O’Brien trophy. If any season occurs, it will be later in the future, once the roster has been enhanced further.
If the 76ers make any trades — a reasonable assumption for a team led by Daryl Morey — they will most likely be moves to bring in players who will benefit the organization in the long run, recoup future draft picks, and/or reduce the team’s luxury tax burden. The Sixers make sense as a destination for multiple players, though this one is unlikely to be the most active.
Here are three potential trades the 76ers should make before the February 6 deadline.
The Pelicans get Reggie Jackson, a 2025 second-round pick (more beneficial to the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs), and a 2031 second-round pick (more favorable to the 76ers and Dallas Mavericks).
Spurs receive: 2027 second-round pick (via Milwaukee Bucks), 2031 second-round pick (least favorable among 76ers and Mavericks).
The 76ers need more guard help, especially with Jared McCain out for the season. Jose Alvarado would be an excellent addition and should not be prohibitively expensive to trade for. Jackson could finish the season with New Orleans or be purchased out in the hopes of landing with another team through the buyout market.
Alvarado is under contract for at least the next season at $4.5 million, with a player option for the same amount the following season. Given the possibility that he would only play one full season in Philadelphia, the 76ers may be hesitant to trade substantial assets for him.
On the court, though, Alvarado would be an excellent fit. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is a crafty playmaker who remains a scoring threat to keep teams on their toes while still being athletic enough to have an impact on defense. With his tendency for stealing inbound passes and pursuing the ball, he’d be a perfect match in Nick Nurse’s style. His three-point shooting has significantly improved, and he still has several peak years left.
However, the Pelicans could
be convinced by what the Sixers have to offer, they may be more interested in a second-round pick in the upcoming draft. They don’t have a choice in this round and would undoubtedly like to find someone to replace Alvarado (or fill another need) as quickly as feasible. That’s where the Spurs step in. To gain a great second-round pick in this year’s draft, the 76ers would give two future second-round picks to the Spurs, who shown their interest in obtaining future draft capital this summer by dealing a 2024 first-round pick for a first-rounder and a swap that will not occur until the 2030s. San Antonio already has two unprotected first-round picks in the 2025 draft, so they can trade away one of their second-round picks.
That Bucks pick might be quite valuable, so if the Pelicans are willing to accept it as the cornerstone of Alvarado’s return, the 76ers should go for it. However, New Orleans appears to be operating under a win-now mandate, so delivering a pick that conveys sooner may help close the deal.
The 76ers get Ousmane Dieng and have the protections lifted from their 2025 first-round pick from the Thunder.
Thunder get Guerschon Yabusele, Eric Gordon, a 2026 first-round pick (least favorable to Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets), and a 2027 second-round pick (more favorable to 76ers and Bucks).
Guerschon Yabusele has been tremendously essential to the 76ers, but he is unlikely to continue beyond this season. The Sixers can easily be outbid. Other teams (including the one involved in this deal) are unable to extend his contract, so they would be wise to try to secure some future value for him before the deadline. While the 76ers might (and should) consider trading Yabu to a solid club for a second-round pick or two, they could also try to recoup their own 2025 first-round pick. They’ll want to get something out of what will most likely be a small tank for the second half of the season.
The Sixers would greatly benefit from reacquiring their choice. After being shipped off to unload Al Horford’s contract, it is suddenly looking like a top-10 pick. The pick is protected by the top six picks, but the Sixers will most likely be unable to tank hard enough to ensure that they keep it, or even have a better chance of keeping it than losing it. Philly must secure that pick in order to make potential trades or add a high-level prospect.
Yabusele would make an excellent addition to any championship team’s bench. The Thunder, who may be concerned about Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein’s health, would like to add another player who can play both next to him and on his own at center. Yabusele passed away. Smarts and scoring ability would benefit an OKC club that requires shooting and a little more on-ball juice on offense. Yabu will not be given isolations or pushed to produce on his own, but he can make things happen with short rolls and drives off receptions. Because they risk losing Yabusele this summer while giving away a potential top-10 pick, the Thunder will also receive a protected 2026 first-round pick, which might end up being their own. This pick was acquired by Philadelphia as part of the James Harden trade and will most likely be one of the final three picks in the first round. Oklahoma City would also receive an additional second-round selection and Gordon for salary matching reasons.
Dieng doesn’t play much for the Thunder but his size, mobility, and potential to improve would make him an intriguing flyer for the 76ers. The 6-foot-9 forward turns just 22 years old in May and has ball-handling, shooting, and playmaking capabilities that, if they fully transfer to the NBA level, would make him a phenomenal, versatile role player.
76ers add shooting with Corey Kispert The 76ers need three-point shooting badly. Kispert not only shoots well from downtown but is a super efficient finisher on shots at the rim, using creative moves and shooting angles to convert at a high rate. Plus, he rarely wastes his time shooting mid-range shots. His shot diet is exactly what any team would want from a role player, making him an ideal fit on a team with three ball-dominant stars.
Throughout his NBA career, Kispert has been a fantastic shooter at the rim. That percentage has taken a dip this season but he has shot above 76 percent (hey now!) on shots within three feet of the rim in each of his three prior NBA seasons. His three-point percentage over his two seasons before this one? 40.2 percent on 5.6 attempts per game. Although his efficiency has taken a dip this season, he’s still a very good shooter. While Oubre, a regular starter for Philly, has his moments as an energy guy, defensive playmaker, and dunker, he’s not consistent enough to justify keeping him over Kispert. In an offense where the stars are asked to do the heavy lifting, they need guys who can space the floor and splash threes, especially with George and Maxey’s three-point shooting being as disappointing as it is.
Although Kispert’s defense leaves plenty to be desired, he’s the type of heads-up sharpshooter that would be a major breath of fresh air in Philly. He’s also under a good contract, paying him $14 million in each of the next two seasons and $13 million in each of the following two, with the fourth season being a team option.
The 76ers have the Clippers’ first-round pick in 2028 (as well as their own) and swap rights in 2029. With those huge advantages, they can afford to part with a first-rounder in 2030 as well as their additional first-rounder in 2026. They could add some protections to potentially retain it but with Kispert’s affordable contract, youthfulness, and skill set, he’s not going to get traded easily. Adding a second-rounder or two would still make this deal worthwhile for Philadelphia.
The Wizards, the team Oubre started his NBA career with, would probably buy him and Drummond out of their contracts to give them a chance to latch onto a better team. Baldwin, whose inclusion in this trade is solely to match salaries, would at least give the 76ers some size and three-point shooting at the forward spot in the deeper parts of their bench.
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