Tank You Very Much: Potential Sixers Trades

It was common knowledge that this was going to be a massive rebuilding season for Philadelphia, starting with the trade of Jrue Holiday, that would set them up for a shot at a top 3 pick in a loaded 2014 draft. After a 3-0 start, it has been suggested that they might need to trade their 3 vets, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young, and Evan Turner in an attempt to lock up a top pick. They are probably bad enough without doing that, but Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, and picks are the only un-tradeable things in Philadelphia, so if they can acquire assets or young pieces for these three useful veterans, they should do it....

Spencer Hawes to the Los Angeles Clippers for Reggie Bullock

The Clippers will have to include a number of small contracts to make this deal work, but the crux of the deal is Hawes for Bullock. The Clippers have championship aspirations, but a big problem with depth at the center position. There are also questions about whether DeAndre Jordan can play in cruch time due to his abysmal foul shooting and limited offensive game. Hawes won't be an upgrade defensively, but he is a much better offensive player and basically a wash as a rebounder. Hawes is a very good midrange shooter, who at least so far this season is 6-12 through three games this season, while also being a very good passer. As a backup center and floor spacer who can close out games for the Clippers, Hawes would be perfect. As a bonus he is an expiring contract that won't lock them up long term. As an added bonus Byron Mullens wouldn never have to play an important minute for them ever again. For the Sixers the goal is to get worse this season and acquire long-term talent or assets, both of which they would accomplish with this trade. Bullock, the 25th overall pick in the 2013 draft won't have a role on the team the Clippers year, not with Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick on the roster, but has some nice potential as a three-and-D wing, which would fit well next to Carter-Williams, Noel, and whoever they get in the draft (Wiggins, Randle, Parker) with that skill-set. The Clippers also have their 2014 first round pick to include in the deal. Another possibility would be a three team trade that sent Dudley to another team (say, the Pelicans) with a youn asset or two heading to Philly (say, Austin Rivers). In this case the Clippers get Hawes and Bullock steps into Dudley's minutes. 

Thaddeus Young to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kendrick Perkins

While it is starting to become clear that he Thunder are going to stubbornly hold on to Kendrick Perkins, they could still try to deal him to a tanking team. With Steven Adams playing well so far, plus the ability to play Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka at center, and Hasheem Thabeet able to fill in at least an average level, the Thunder won't be hurt at center by losing Perkins, but would get a huge upgrade on offense and another scorer to balance out their offense even more. Young is a layup machine who can also more than hold his own defensively at both forward spots. He can play alongside Durant at the 4 or in place of him at the 3 and be a sixth man or a starter, a more effective version of what they hoped Jeff Green would be. The Sixers would be getting $8 million off the books a year earlier (Perkins has 2 years remaining, Young 3) and a strong locker room presence, but little on court value, which would suit them fine as they tank. The Thunder can also sweeten the deal with the like of Perry Jones, Andre Roberson, Grant Jerrett's rights, or the rights to German big man Tibor Pleiss or Spainish guard Alex Abrines. The Thunder will have to see what they can do with their current lineup, but acquiring Young at the expense of only Perkins would be a huge boost for them. 

  

Evan Turner to the San Antonio Spurs for Matt Bonner, Nando de Colo, and the rights to Davis Bertans
This is a very un-Spurs-like move, but it is fun to speculate about, and could actually be a need, as well as a piece for their future. Whether the Spurs are in the market for a wing will depend on if Marco Belinelli pans out or not, so far, so good but he a track record of inconsistency. Turner is the superior talent who is finally playing up to his draft status, and does a number things that the Spurs would like: he competes defensively, is a high IQ player, a good passer and rebounder. Most importantly however, Turner can hit corner threes (38% last season) and make plays, which will help ease the burden on Manu Ginobili. Despite his rep as a shooter, Belinelli was actually terrible from the corners last season (27%), and pales in comparison to Turner in the playmaking department (21.0 assist ratio to Belinelli's 16.2). This is a very unlikely scenario, but if the Spurs think Turner could help them return to the title game, or be a part of their post-Big 3 rebuild, then dealing for him is something they would have to explore. Bonner and de Colo could be replaced with a number of different contracts, but since they are both expiring contracts, they work the best in the deal. The prize for the Sixers is Bertans, a sharp-shooting 20-year old Latvian forward who was drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft. The Spurs also have a number of other prospects (Livio Jean-Charles, Ryan Richards) and picks they could use in a deal.

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