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.

Elton Brand 'Can't Say' if Markelle Fultz Will Return This Season

Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand was noncommittal when asked if guard Markelle Fultz will play again this season. Fultz has been out of action since Nov. 19 with a shoulder injury.

Fultz has been away from the team altogether since early December after being diagnosed with a Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (NTOS), which affects the nerves between his neck and his shoulder.

Brand said the 76ers will update Fultz's status “in a few weeks,” but he “can't say” if the 20-year-old will return to the court for the 2018-19 season. According to Brand, Fultz will rejoin the 76ers (but not play) when they square off against the Boston Celtics in a Christmas Day contest at TD Garden.

“He wants to be around, we want him to be around, as coach has said, he misses him, we miss him, he’s beloved to his teammates, it’s the holidays,” Brand said.

Fultz has had an eventful second season in the NBA. He was booted from the starting lineup, fired his trainer and has been the subject of trade rumors.

Fultz may not return this season. (Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)

Fultz has appeared in 19 games this season, averaging 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. He is shooting a horrific 42 percent from the field, including 29 percent from 3-point territory. He has made just 56.8 percent of his free throws. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft played in just 14 games in his disastrous rookie season.

The 76ers are open to trading Fultz, but his value has plummeted since his NTOS diagnosis. The trade deadline is Feb. 7.

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.

J.J. Redick was 'Hour Away' from Joining Pacers

Before reaching an agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $12.3 million contract, J.J. Redick seriously considered signing with the Indiana Pacers.

On the most recent episode of The J.J. Redick podcast, the 34-year-old revealed how he contemplated leaving Philadelphia for Indiana in free agency.

"I almost signed with Indy, I mean I was an hour away, two hours away," he said. "I was very close, I had a 5 p.m. deadline and it was basically 12:30-1 o'clock in the afternoon when Philly changed the offer."

The 76ers likely sweetened their contract offer after learning of Indiana’s interest in the shooting guard. With both teams on the rise, Philadelphia couldn’t afford to lose a member of its starting lineup to a top-notch Eastern Conference foe.

J.J. Redick considered joining Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers in free agency. (USA Today Sports)

Philadelphia desperately needed to maintain the sharpshooting Redick—who averaged a career-best 17.1 points per contest and shot 42 percent from three-point territory in 2017-18—after losing Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli in free agency.

While the Pacers were unable to pry Redick away from the 76ers, they managed to address their shooting needs by signing Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott.

Redick indicated last year he wants to retire with the 76ers. He will play under a one-year deal for the second straight year—after signing a 1-year, $20 million with the franchise in the summer of 2017—and will rejoin a team that won 52 games in the regular season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.   

NBA 2017–18 Eastern Conference Standings Predictions

1. Boston Celtics

The Celtics finished in first place in a historically weak Eastern Conference last season with a 53–29 record. The East got worse and the Celtics improved by adding All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, who is in the prime of his career.

Trading Avery Bradley may present some initial bumps in the road, but the Celtics netted a quality player in Marcus Morris from the Detroit Pistons. A versatile forward, Morris has done a commendable job guarding LeBron James in recent years. Furthermore, the move opens up more court time for second-year guard/forward Jaylen Brown, who will look to play his way into the starting lineup.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions, and yet, the franchise is in turmoil. Kyrie Irving demanded a trade, a trade for Paul George was scraped at the last minute and LeBron may skip town (again) next summer.

LeBron James will become a free agent next summer. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Remarkably, the Cavs remain the favorites to reach the Finals for a fourth straight year, even though it’s likely Irving will be moved at some point before February’s trade deadline.

As long as James is in Cleveland, the East is the Cavs to lose.

3. Toronto Raptors

Toronto brought back Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, but lost P.J. Tucker and Patrick Patterson in free agency. Still, the core of Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Ibaka, Jonas Valančiūnas and the emerging Norman Powell — set to be a starter in 2017–18 following the trade of the underachieving DeMare Carroll to the Brooklyn Nets — makes the Raptors a near-lock to finish in the top-half of the East standings. 

4. Washington Wizards

The Wizards locked up John Wall for the foreseeable future with a supermax contract and re-signed Otto Porter to a max deal to maintain one of the best starting units in the conference. 

The bench, which was terrible a season ago and hampered the team in its postseason run, managed to get worse with Bojan Bogndanovic defecting to the Indiana Pacers via free agency. With that said, they have the conference’s top point guard and have a great shot to win a playoff series for the second straight year.

5. Milwaukee Bucks

A starter in the 2017 All-Star Game, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s must-watch players. ‘The Greak Freek’ showcased his all-around game last year, becoming the first player in league history to finish in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks for a single season. Antetokounmpo’s presence alone makes the Bucks a playoff contender in the East. 

The return of forward Jabari Parker — who tore his ACL this past February, abruptly ending his third season in the league — could be the added boost that propels the franchise to its first playoff series win since 2001.

6. Charlotte Hornets

After reaching the postseason in 2016, the Hornets took a step back last year, finishing 10 games under .500 and missing the playoffs all together. 

Kemba Walker was the lone bright spot, as the 27-year-old point guard earned his first All-Star appearance. 

Dwight Howard holding his Hornets jersey in his introductory press conference. (David Foster III/Charlote Observer)

Active in the offseason, the Hornets traded for Dwight Howard, who should fit perfectly in Charlotte’s inside-out offensive attack.

Howard joins a strong frontcourt that includes Frank Kaminsky, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller and lengthy forwards Nicolas Batum (who actually starts at shooting guard, even though he stands at 6'10") and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a defensive stalwart.

Howard has had a rough-go since forcing his way out of Orlando, but the three-time Defensive Player of the Year actually played quite well for Atlanta a season ago — averaging 13.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest . He should see his role on offense expand for the playoff-bound Hornets.

7. Miami Heat

Miami came up just short in its bid for a playoff spot last season. After a woeful 10–31 start to the year, the Heat flipped the script and registered a 31–10 mark for the second half of the season. 

Returning the same cast of characters with Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson leading the squad, Miami also added former Celtics center Kelly Olynk in free agency. The Canadian sharp-shooting big man bolsters one of the strongest benches in the league — which already includes combo guard Tyler Johnson and guard/forward Josh Richardson. 

Add in that 21-year-old Justice Winslow — who played just 13 games last season after tearing his labrum in his right shoulder —will return to the fold and likely become a major contributor, and it’s hard to foresee a scenario where Miami misses the playoff for a second consecutive year.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers will be the ultimate wild card team for the 2017–18 season. In all likelihood, health will be the major determinant of success. Joel Embiid, who showed flashes of brilliance last year before his season was cut short after undergoing surgery to address a meniscus tear in his left knee, needs to prove he can stay on the court. Ben Simmons — who sat out the entire season — must also live up to expectations in order for Philadelphia to become a force in the East.

Joel Embiid has played in just 31 games in three years since being drafted by the 76ers. (Aaron Doster/USA Today)

The depth of the 76ers is impressive. J.J. Redick was signed to a 1-year deal in the summer and will likely slide into the starting shoot guard role, while free agent addition Amir Johnson is expected to come off the bench.

If the top overall selection of June’s NBA Draft — Markelle Fultz — joins Simmons, Embiid and Dario Saric in the starting rotation, swingman Robert Covington, one of the league’s most unappreciated players, would anchor a formidable second-string unit.

Philadelphia fans have adhered to the “Trust The Process” philosophy set forth by former general manager Sim Hinkie for years now. This seems like the season their faith in the longterm rebuild is rewarded with a postseason appearance.

Rest of the Pack

9. Detroit Pistons

10. Orlando Magic

11. New York Knicks

12. Indiana Pacers

13. Atlanta Hawks

14. Chicago Bulls 

15. Brooklyn Nets