It’s officially Dec. 15! A somewhat pivotal day in the NBA calendar, as all contracts in the league (most notably ones signed just over six months ago in the summer) become tradeable. Even more importantly, players traded today and tomorrow can have their salaries aggregated in additional deals ahead of this year’s deadline.
So, with NBA trade talk destined to heat up, what exactly should the Sixers trade for? Should they be buyers? Sellers? Who will get moved in the annual salary dump? Should they empty
the clip for an MVP-caliber player who may or may not be available in Giannis Antetokounmpo? Or should they look elsewhere?
The Sixers are an unorthodox team in the sense that there isn’t a clear-cut timeline, at least not yet. Let’s survey the landscape and try to gauge some potential trade candidates for this year, or beyond. We’ll start with smaller deals and progressively scale up to the biggest names.
The annual Sixers salary dump
We’ve seen the Sixers trim salary before, and at this point it’s almost an annual tradition. This year should be no exception, as the Sixers are just under $7 million into the luxury tax. It’s also worth mentioning that they have $1,063,493 in first apron space and are $12,942,493 under the second apron.
So, if or when the Sixers look to move salary, who will it be?
As things stand, it’s highly unlikely they’ll look to move one of their massive contracts in Tyrese Maxey, Paul George or Joel Embiid. VJ Edgecombe is the next highest salary at $11.1 million this season, but we all know he’s going nowhere. Beyond that, the Sixers have Quentin Grimes ($8.7M), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($8.3M) and Andre Drummond ($5M) as notable salaries close to that $7 million luxury tax number.
I won’t touch on Grimes too much here. He has new representation that should help him actually negotiate a new contract in good faith. He’s also been a massive part of the Sixers’ three-guard lineup, which has produced their best numbers this year. On top of that, he has a no-trade clause, meaning he’s not signing off on a move unless he wants it.
That leaves Oubre and Drummond as potential candidates in a cost-cutting move.
Trading away Oubre’s $8.3 million and taking back a salary less than $1.3 million, or no salary at all, would get the Sixers fully out of the luxury tax. I would be strongly against this type of move. Oubre played strong basketball before going down with injury. He’s been overextended for most of his Sixers tenure, but he’s an excellent gap-filler and a good addition whether the Sixers are trying to win now with George and Embiid or lean into the youth movement. It also goes against Daryl Morey’s MO. He simply doesn’t trade productive players and assets purely for cost savings.
That brings us to Drummond, who would be the most likely candidate. His salary doesn’t fully get the Sixers out of the luxury tax, but it does get them close. Theoretically, the Sixers could also trade one of Kyle Lowry or Eric Gordon along with Drummond, which would get them out of the tax and open up a roster spot. With their preexisting open roster spot, that’s two slots that could go to Jabari Walker or Dominick Barlow, both of whom are on two-way contracts and will need to be converted at some point this season.
There are several teams projected to have space next summer, but only two really stand out as salary-dumping grounds this season: the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets. To incentivize a move, the Sixers would likely need to send out a second-round pick or two to get Drummond and another cheap salary off the books.
Is it worth it? In my opinion, no. Drummond has had a resurgence this year and has been productive. But the Sixers aren’t surefire contenders, and ownership or other higher-ups will use that to justify moves like this. Helicopter fuel ain’t cheap, guys.
Some under-the-radar candidates
With the Sixers stuck between two timelines, it’s likely we see a middle-of-the-road type of deal. But who could be available for a reasonable price and also blend with the current core?
The list isn’t long, but there are a few names to watch.
Keon Ellis
At this point, Ellis has become almost too popular of a name to be truly under the radar, but I’m still listing him here. Ellis is just 25 years old and, for reasons nobody can quite figure out, has fallen out of Sacramento’s rotation more often than not.
He put together a strong season last year, averaging 8.3 points in 24.4 minutes per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from three on four attempts per game. While the Sixers don’t necessarily need another guard (I already hear your comments), Ellis is probably better than his numbers suggest. And at 6-foot-4, he isn’t small. He’s also on an incredibly cheap contract for salary-matching purposes at $2.3 million.
I wouldn’t sell the house for Ellis, but the Kings clearly don’t value him the way the rest of the league might. That could mean they’d listen if they like the deal enough. They’re also stuck in no man’s land, so who knows what they could be talked into.
Jay Huff
Huff might be my favorite trade target that nobody really brings up. He’d blend tremendously with this Sixers group. He’s a per-minute machine, averaging 19.4 minutes per game and 2.5 blocks per game. He’s also putting up 8.1 points while shooting a respectable 33 percent from three on nearly 4.6 attempts per game.
Theoretically, you could run him as a forward next to Embiid or another big, or have him patrolling the rim himself.
The Pacers are in a bit of a gap year, which means almost anything is on the table as they retool. Myles Turner’s departure has them looking for a big, and while Huff has produced, I’m not sure he’s the No. 1 option on a team with real aspirations. I don’t expect Indiana to shop him outright, but if they can turn a late-addition signee into assets, that could be enough.
Huff is on a very team-friendly contract over the next three years, making $2.3M, $2.6M, and $3M through 2027–28. He’s 27 years old, which is slightly older than this team’s core, but there isn’t much mileage on his body.
Yves Missi
Missi is just 21 years old and coming off what was widely considered a strong rookie campaign, one that landed him on the All-Rookie Second Team just a year ago. So why would the Pelicans move him?
Well, because they didn’t have Derik Queen last year. Queen has put together one of the better rookie campaigns in a deep draft class. Add in Zion Williamson, who is around the team (sometimes), and Missi’s minutes have dipped to 18.8 per game this season after averaging 26.8 a year ago. The Pelicans also handed out a $16 million deal to veteran Kevon Looney and a minimum contract to our old friend DeAndre Jordan, who is somehow still hanging around.
With all that in mind, it isn’t crazy to think New Orleans would listen to offers on Missi. They simply have more investment in similar players. If that’s the case, the Sixers could land a versatile big with real size and length in just the second year of his rookie deal. His salary is low enough to match in a variety of ways, and he’d fit right into the youth movement.
It’s also worth noting that Missi was one of the few names we know the Sixers brought in for a pre-draft workout in 2024. There’s interest there to some degree.
Swings for the future
I don’t expect the Sixers to make a roster-altering move involving either George or Embiid. But if they were to embrace a full youth movement, some of these names could make sense.
Tari Eason
Eason has long been one of my favorite draft prospects, and he’s produced well in Houston. The 6-foot-8 forward is at a crossroads as the Rockets rapidly build a payroll and inch closer to contention. They also just signed Dorian Finney-Smith to a multi-year deal, which could squeeze Eason out of their long-term plans.
Trading for Eason now wouldn’t be difficult, but retaining and paying him would be, given the Sixers’ salary structure. Players like Eason don’t get moved often, and he’d fit beautifully as a high-motor, do-it-all wing with a real frame. If the Sixers opted for a full overhaul, I’d imagine Eason would be high on their list.
Trey Murphy
Murphy has drawn trade interest around the league for a while now, and it’s easy to see why. At just 25 years old, he’s averaging 21.1 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 36 percent from three on high volume. The sweet-shooting 6-foot-8 forward would fit seamlessly with the Sixers’ guards without sacrificing size, length or athleticism.
Unlike Eason, Murphy is locked in long term. He’s earning $25M this year, $27M in 2026–27, $29M in 2027–28, and $31M in 2028–29. By NBA standards, that deal is well below his market value, with his best years likely still ahead. If the Sixers were to unload the clip with an eye toward the future, Murphy would be the target.
Peyton Watson
Watson is at a different stage of his career than the wings above, as he’s entering the final year of his rookie-scale deal. Denver, a team notorious for avoiding massive spending, will have a tough decision to make. They already have over $217 million committed for next season, and an extension for Watson would likely push them deep into the luxury tax.
That could create a small buy window. If Denver knows they aren’t willing to pay him what he’s worth, they may look to recoup assets.
Watson would fit nicely with the young core. At just 23 years old, he’s already entering his fourth NBA season and has improved every year. So far, he’s averaging 10.8 points, 5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals in just 27 minutes per game, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three. At a legit 6-foot-8, he provides size and shooting next to the guards, with the upside of potentially locking him up long term in restricted free agency.
Big-name salary relief
Again, I wouldn’t expect a major pivot. But if the Sixers were to move either George or Embiid, here are some big contracts they could bring back that would expire and open space after the season:
- Khris Middleton ($33.2M)
- CJ McCollum ($30.6M)
- Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7M)
- Anfernee Simons ($27.7M)
- Zion Williamson ($39.4M this season, $42.2M in 2026–27, $44.9M in 2027–28, fully non-guaranteed)
The big names
It wouldn’t be trade season without speculation about the biggest stars in the league. Let’s take a look at a few who would fit with this core.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Greek.
There are conflicting reports on whether Antetokounmpo is actually available, but let’s assume he is. Should the Sixers be interested, and what would a deal even look like?
I already hear the comments screaming no, but MVP-caliber players don’t become available often. The Sixers would absolutely do their due diligence. The concerns are obvious: his age (31) and the fact that he’s a unique player to build around. He’s improved his shooting, but he still needs the ball in his hands and space around him. If you trade for him, other areas of the roster will need to be adjusted.
On the flip side, the Sixers would have to ask themselves whether trading for Giannis puts them in the same stratosphere as teams like OKC or San Antonio. The answer is probably yes, at least to some extent. That’s what makes a theoretical deal so intriguing. This is the one move they could talk themselves into because it’s the only true needle-shifter available right now and for the foreseeable future.
Any deal would require one of Embiid or George for salary-matching purposes. I doubt the Bucks would be thrilled to take on either contract for arguably the greatest player in franchise history, so the rest of the package would matter. Would the Sixers include Edgecombe? Could Jared McCain be the centerpiece? How many picks would it take?
You’re likely looking at a framework of Embiid or George, McCain and draft compensation that probably includes at least one unprotected Clippers pick. It’s an extremely rich price. But again, this is the only move that could credibly put the Sixers back into serious contention. That alone makes it worth discussing.
Zion Williamson
I already hear it: no, the Sixers don’t need another injury-prone big.
And unfortunately, that’s what the Duke phenom has been for most of his career. Still, there’s a reason for the Sixers to at least inquire. Zion’s contract is non-guaranteed moving forward, meaning a team could waive him and owe nothing beyond this season.
If the Sixers pursued this, it likely wouldn’t be to land Zion himself, but to gain salary relief. That said, there would probably be some intrigue in seeing what he looks like outside of New Orleans, a team that appears genuinely cursed.
This would be a way to offload major money while also taking a swing on Zion. If the Sixers ever hit the nuclear button (probably not this season), this would be an efficient way to do both. Plus, the Pelicans apparently say yes to any trade offer now, so there’s that.
Domantas Sabonis
The Kings are stuck in no man’s land and might need to rebuild their rebuild. Sabonis is currently out with injury, but we know what he is: a legitimate All-Star-level big who isn’t just a double-double machine, but an offensive hub.
Offensively, he’d blend well with the Sixers’ guards. He’s an excellent screen-setter, a strong facilitator, and a dominant rebounder with a soft touch around the rim.
Most of the concerns come on defense, where he hasn’t consistently held up in high-leverage moments. But as a regular-season innings eater, he’s proven, and there aren’t many bigs better than him.
At nearly 30, it likely doesn’t make sense given the Sixers’ timeline. But if his market craters, which isn’t unrealistic under the current CBA, and the Sixers want to pivot off Embiid, Sabonis could make sense. He’s under contract for the same length as Embiid, but not at a supermax number, which would save money while adding a proven regular-season player.
Truthfully, this isn’t the move I’d make, nor the one I expect the Sixers to make when they commit to a direction. Still, with teams giving up less for stars than ever, this could be a relatively cheap, asset-wise way to land a proven big.
We still don’t have a concrete sense of what the Sixers are looking to do this season, if anything. More likely, we’ll see a move on the margins that sheds salary and adds an asset or two, either in the form of a draft pick or a player who can help now and beyond.
The Sixers, and Daryl Morey in particular, have an intriguing road to navigate over the coming months. We’ll see if any of these names resurface later on.
