76ers News: Philly Among Betting Favorites to Land Donovan Mitchell

Sixers among possible favorites to land Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star

With trade season unofficially beginning in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers will be among teams surveying the market for upgrades. They were recently listed among the betting favorites to land an Eastern Conference All-Star. 

After news broke that Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were both going to miss significant time with injuries, all eyes shifted to Donovan Mitchell. Between losing a pair of key players and sitting in the middle of the standings, many began wondering if the front office would consider moving the All-Star guard. 

As of now, the Cavaliers have no plans on trading Mitchell before the February 8th deadline. However, betting odds for his next team have surfaced. The overall favorites are the New York Knicks (+200), but the Sixers have the fifth-best odds (+1800). The only teams ahead of them are the Knicks, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and New Orleans Pelicans. 

Armed with draft picks and expiring contracts from the James Harden trade, Daryl Morey has the pieces to swing a big move. They've continued to be connected to Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine, but reports suggest they are prioritizing players with two-way impact. While he's mainly known for his scoring, Mitchell is someone who fits that description. 

With his 6-foot-10 wingspan, Mitchell is capable of being a plus defender. This makes him an ideal fit for the Sixers, as he could seamlessly slide in next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt. If paired together, they'd instantly be in the conversation for the best guard duo in the league. More importantly, the Sixers would have an explosive offensive trio capable of competing with any contender. 

So far this season, Mitchell is averaging 27.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 5.5 APG. Cleveland might not consider a trade now, but if they drop in the standings in the coming weeks, it could lead to a change of heart.