3 Made-Up Sixers Draft Day Trades
The made-up trade guru Ethan Giles is back just in time for the 2016 NBA Draft with three made-up Sixers trade scenarios.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Make no mistake about it: With three first-round picks (Nos. 1, 24, 26) and an abundance of big men (Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Dario Saric) the Philadelphia 76ers will be active during Thursday's NBA Draft.
Trade rumors are already spreading rampantly involving the Sixers, most often regarding Noel or Okafor.
Report: Celtics Want Nerlens Noel
Here are three non-Celtics related made-up draft day trades involving the Sixers.
3. C.J. McCollum for Nerlens Noel and picks
Sixers Receive: CJ McCollum ($3.2 million base salary in 2016-17, RFA in 2017-18)
Blazers Receive: Nerlens Noel ($4.4 million base salary in 2016-17, RFA in 2017-18), No. 24, No. 26, and 2017 pick via Lakers
If the Blazers would consider trading McCollum, which admittedly isn't likely, the deal is beneficial for both sides.
In McCollum the Sixers acquire a guard who can actually score the ball, something the team has not had in years. The Blazers lose a phenomenal player, but the viability of pairing the defensively inept McCollum with even worse defender Damian Lillard is questionable.
In Noel, Portland gets a perfect center for Lillard, a player who can defend both the rim and perimeter and thrives in transition. They also acquire two picks in this draft -- which might not be top-heavy, but is stacked late with role players. Plus, the Lakers pick in next year's draft should be valuable.
McCollum, a Lehigh University graduate, returning home to play basketball is a nice storyline, which the suddenly PR conscious Sixers' owners should be happy to promote.
2. Brandon Knight for Jahlil Okafor
Sixers Receive: Brandon Knight (On year 2 of a 5 year/$70 million deal, UFA in 2020), Archie Goodwin ($2.1 million base salary in 2016-17, RFA in 2017-18), and No. 13
Suns Receive: Jahlil Okafor ($4.8 million base salary in 2016-17, 2017 club option)
This trade is a departure from the winning value the team had during the Hinkie years, but presents the team with flexible options and good positional depth.
Brandon Knight is coming off a terrible, injury plagued year, but has a manageable contract in the new salary cap and would be a tremendous fit with Ben Simmons.
The No. 13 overall pick will not yield a star, but the team can find an adequate role player (Wade Baldwin, Demetrius Jackson, or Malik Beasley) to add to its young core.
The Suns get a player with humongous defensive flaws in Okafor, but there is no doubt he still has potential after being the third overall pick last year. Theoretically, he could thrive in a pick and roll based offense if he is surrounded with shooters.
1. Three-Way Trade
Sixers Receive: Omer Asik (On year 2 of 5 year/$57 million deal, UFA in 2020), No. 8 overall
Kings Receive: Jahlil Okafor ($4.8 million base salary in 2016-17, 2017 club option), Jrue Holiday ($11.3 million base salary in 2016-17, UFA in 2017-18), No. 6 overall
Pelicans Receive: DeMarcus Cousins (On year 3 of 4 year/$65 million deal, UFA in 2018)
This trade could happen if the Kings are sick of Cousins' baggage and would like a young player who they can control.
If Okafor develops he could bring a lot of the same things Cousins does offensively, which should be of interest for the Kings roster devoid of young players. In addition to Cousins, the Kings also get a talented but injured point guard that Sixers fans know well in Jrue Holiday. Plus, they'll move up two spots in the draft.
The Sixers acquire the top-eight pick Bryan Colangelo has not been shy about desiring, while also having to take on Omer Asik's horrific contract. The contract should not be as big of a burden to the Sixers, as the team has more cap space than they could possibly know what to do with and Asik's contract is slightly better under the new cap (only slightly).
The Pelicans acquire a top flight center in Cousins who can dominate alongside of Anthony Davis if his head's on straight, while only squandering a top six pick and Holiday.
