76ers the Biggest Winner of NBA's Trade Deadline

By acquiring Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers now own the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. Their starting-five features 2019 All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, along with Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick and Harris.

Harris has made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers this season, shooting 49.6 percent overall. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest with an 18.69 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) with LA. Harris can play on or off the ball, which gives head coach Brett Brown more lineup versatility. The 6-foot-8 forward will be utilized as a stretch four in a lot of lineups.

Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic were also sent to Philadelphia in the trade. Scott can serve as a backup power forward, while Marjanovic will be used as a center off the bench.

The 76ers’ acquisition of Harris comes just a few months after the team traded for Butler, a four-time All-Star. First-year GM Elton Brand and the 76ers are going all-in for this season.

"We believe we are in position to contend now," Brand said, "and our moves reflect that belief."

Philadelphia did give up on Markelle Fultz—shipping the second-year guard to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons, a protected first-round pick and a second-round pick—but the NBA's 2017 No. 1 overall pick had no future with the 76ers. Brand said the Fultz trade was made so Philadelphia could add wing depth—and it accomplished that by landing Simmons.

"The goal there, we expected him to be back some time this season," Brand said when asked what went into trading Fultz now. "That was our hope. But right now we had a chance to add a player, wing depth, and so we had to go do it now."

Simmons wasn’t the only wing Brand added at the trade deadline. The 76ers also traded for James Ennis from the Houston Rockets, who viewed the swingman expendable after they acquired Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets saved $2.4 million by trading Ennis to the 76ers and are now $2.4 million above the tax threshold.

The 76ers' flurry of moves at the trade deadline enable them to challenge the East's elite and reach their first Finals since 2001.

Cavs Reportedly Offered Korver, Pick for Fultz

According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers offered Kyle Korver and a protected draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Markelle Fultz. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Fultz is no longer part of the 76ers’ long-term plans.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported that the Cavs inquired about Fultz and proposed the 37-year-old sharpshooting guard/forward Korver in trade discussions. Korver and Fultz have nearly the same salaries, meaning the players can be traded for one another straight-up.

The Cavs covet the 20-year-old Fultz, as Amico Hoops reported on Sunday. After the 76ers acquired Jimmy Butler, it was clear there was no room for Fultz in their lineup. Fultz, whose shooting woes have been well-documented, cannot play next to Ben Simmons, the reigning Rookie of the Year and franchise cornerstone who also has yet to develop an outside shot.

The 76ers have centered their future on a Big Three of Joel Embiid, Simmons and Butler. They are willing to part ways with Fultz if it means bolstering this year’s roster (and ideally beyond). Korver would add much-needed shooting to the 76ers’ second-unit.

For the season, Fultz has posted per-game averages of 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. He is shooting a dreadful 42 percent from the field, a measly 29 percent from three-point territory and 56.8 percent from the free-throw line. Fultz’s young age and potential make him an attractive option for the rebuilding Cavs, in spite of his early career struggles.

The 76ers are willing to trade Markelle Fultz. (Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)

Korver is an enticing trade asset because his $7.5 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed. If the 76ers were to acquire Korver, who spent the first four year of his career with Philadelphia, they could give him a trial run for the remainder of the year. They can let go of him after the year if things don’t work out and he is unable to help in their postseason run.

It's unclear exactly how far the talks went between Cleveland and Philadelphia, but the 76ers are listening to offers for Fultz, signaling his time in Philadelphia will end sooner rather than later.