As dominant as the Sixers starting lineup has been this season, the bench unit has not been able to carry their own weight. On paper Philadelphia has a very deep roster, but clearly it is a struggle for the team to succeed when the stars sit down. The NBA trade deadline is almost here (February 9), so the 76ers may address some flaws on their roster to bolster depth.
Despite battling injuries that kept Embiid from touching the court at the start of his career he “trusted the process” and eventually became a star in the league. However, Daryl Morey has never acquired a backup center that can produce productive minutes while Embiid rests. Since the start of Embiid’s playing career in 2016 there have been tons of veteran centers on the roster, but none have maintained a clear-cut backup role with the team. Fans have been preaching for a solid backup center so the star big man can rest.
Nerlens Noel reuniting with the 76ers is a possible trade to keep in mind. When Embiid is not on the floor, Noel would complement Harden’s playstyle. The pair can run pick-and-roll and Noel is a threat to attack the rim so it will create issues for opposing defenses. At this point, any big man is an upgrade compared to Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed.
The 76ers bench unit has tons of weapons, but most of their offense relies on Tyrese Maxey. However, since it is an undersized lineup, they are lacking defense and opposing teams continue to drop buckets on them.
If Daryl Morey is willing to go all-in for a championship this season, he should seek trading for a player such as Jae Crowder. He hasn’t played for the Phoenix Suns since he lost his role, but the Sixers are in desperate need of a wing who can play 3-and-D. At 6’6” Crowder is more than capable of fulfilling a backup role for a championship caliber team.
After all, Furkan Korkmaz requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier today. The 76ers are potentially shopping Matisse Thybulle as well, so Morey may be able to construct a package trade. With the deadline only a few days away hopefully the 76ers can make a few much-needed acquisitions.
Featured Image: Gerald Herbert / AP
