76ers News: Sharpshooting Guard Listed Among Philly's Top Deadline Targets
While the Philadelphia 76ers have been connected to star-level players in the trade market, it doesn't seem like a big move is coming. Daryl Morey has the pieces to get one done but might want to maintain the team's flexibility moving forward.
Sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers are a team likely to make some form of move before the trade deadline. Led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the team already has its stars. Knowing this, Morey could make a smaller move to further upgrade the supporting cast around them.
With roughly two weeks until the deadline, Bleacher Report put out a list of the top three trade deadline targets for each NBA team. Among those mentioned for the Sixers was Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic.
This season, Bogdanovic has been one of the top reserve players in the league. Through 42 games, he is averaging a career-high 16.8 PPG to go along with 3.1 RPG and 2.6 APG. The 31-year-old is also shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc on high volume.
From a fit perspective, Bogdanovic is the kind of player the Sixers should target. While he isn't a true point guard, he can provide the backcourt help they need in the second unit. Bogdanovic is capable of creating for himself in small samples and is someone who fits next to the team's stars.
The only thing that might deter the Sixers from making a move like this is Bogdanovic's contract. This year, he began a four-year, $68 million deal. One benefit is that his salary slightly decreases over the life of the contract.
Aside from Bogdanovic, the other players mentioned for the Sixers were Alex Caruso and Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Both players appear available via trade, but their respective teams are looking for multiple first-round picks in return.