Sixers Sit at 10 Games Below .500, with Trade Deadline Approaching

Corey Chmara

This upcoming week is a very important one for the Sixers, specifically for two reasons. The first is the February 6th trade deadline, which is fast approaching. As a result, many NBA players will likely be moved—some teams will aim to improve, while others will trade solid role players to contenders. The second reason why this week is crucial for Philly is that everyone is now practicing with the team, meaning we should have a fully healthy squad (excluding McCain) for the first time this season.

Last week was actually a pretty solid one for the Sixers, despite their 2-2 record. They faced teams with winning records while missing both Paul George and Joel Embiid.

The Sixers opened the week against the Lakers, who were without Anthony Davis for most of the game. This game turned into a one-man show led by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 43 points. But the role players also stepped up: Oubre had 20, Gordon added 14, Yabusele contributed 14, and Ricky Council IV came off the bench for 16 points. You could feel the energy from the Sixers, who were determined to win this one, and they did, securing a 118-104 victory.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

After the win over the Lakers, the Sixers faced the Kings on the second leg of a back-to-back. Much like the previous game, this one was largely a solo effort from Tyrese Maxey, who scored 30 points and dished out 8 assists. The role players did their jobs again: Oubre had 15, Gordon had 14, Council IV posted 13, and Lowry added 13. Eric Gordon has quietly been on a solid stretch, scoring 15, 13, 14, 14, and 11 points over the past five games. The Sixers pulled out a 117-104 win here as well.

After winning their first two games of the homestand, the Sixers faced the Denver Nuggets on Friday and the Boston Celtics on Sunday, both at home. Both games had similar narratives, though the Sixers had to fight their way back against the Nuggets. In a high-scoring affair, the Nuggets edged out the Sixers 137-134, thanks to timely buckets from Nikola Jokić. Tyrese Maxey was outstanding again, scoring 42 points and adding 9 assists. Guerschon Yabusele also had the best game of his career, scoring 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Teams like the Nuggets, Celtics, and Lakers have inquired about his availability at the trade deadline, but I really hope the Sixers keep him, as he's been such a valuable contributor to the team’s culture and energy. Despite a valiant effort from the Sixers, the Nuggets pulled out the win.

To cap off the week, the Sixers played the defending champion Boston Celtics on ESPN. The Sixers came out strong, jumping to a 26-point lead in the first half. However, the Celtics, as expected with their talent, fought back, trimming the lead to just 14 points by the end of the third quarter. That was enough to give Boston a chance to make a run, and they did, outscoring the Sixers 38-16 in the fourth quarter to win 118-110. It was a combination of the Sixers coming back down to earth, some questionable coaching decisions in the second half, and Boston finally finding their rhythm.

Last week, Tyrese Maxey averaged 37 points and 6 assists but did not win the Eastern Conference Player of the Week Award, nor was he named an All-Star. It seems like the NBA has something against Maxey, which is all too obvious to Sixers fans.

This week, the Sixers play four more games, again against teams with winning records. On Tuesday, they face the Dallas Mavericks, who recently traded away their franchise cornerstone for Anthony Davis. Davis actually got injured in last week’s game against the Sixers, so it’s doubtful he’ll be ready for this matchup. On Wednesday, the Sixers face the Miami Heat on the second leg of a back-to-back. With both Joel Embiid and Paul George fully practicing now, I expect them to play in at least one of these games. After the trade deadline on Thursday, the Sixers will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons at 7:30 PM on ESPN. While it’s unclear who will be traded to or from the Sixers, I expect the core of Maxey, George, and Embiid to play in this one. To finish off the week, the Sixers will travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM on ABC. With the team fully practicing and a rest day on Saturday, I expect everyone to be available for this game.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Now, let’s talk about the trade deadline. With the Mavericks moving Luka Dončić and the Lakers trading Anthony Davis, it’s clear that no one is safe. This raises the question of whether the Sixers might trade Joel Embiid, but I find that unlikely. As for Paul George, Daryl Morey has reportedly told him that he will not be traded this season. However, we all know Morey’s track record—he's lied to players before, as he did with James Harden regarding a contract extension, and with Patrick Beverley about a potential trade. The Golden State Warriors have reportedly "checked in" on Paul George, having tried to acquire him this past offseason, though there’s been little movement likely due to the lack of a suitable return for the Sixers. Personally, I’d consider trading Paul George, but only if the price is right. I’d be open to a swap for Jimmy Butler, though I’m not sure how the logistics would work. The Sixers have made moves at the trade deadline each year—last year acquiring Buddy Hield from the Pacers, the year before that acquiring Jalen McDaniels from the Raptors, and the year before that trading for James Harden from the Nets in exchange for Ben Simmons.

AP Photo/Nick Wass

While I don’t foresee any major moves, I could see the Sixers trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Lakers, which I’d absolutely hate. Although Yabusele is on a minimum contract, he likely won’t be back next season due to his price tag. Nevertheless, he’s been a bright spot for the team this year, and I’d hate to see him go. I expect the Sixers to make a trade or two to add depth, similar to what they’ve done the past couple of seasons. Players like Malcolm Brogdon, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Corey Kispert come to mind. However, I wouldn’t rule out Daryl Morey making a bigger move. Trading Paul George seems unlikely, but I wouldn’t put it past Morey to pull the trigger on something unexpected.

This week is going to be a crazy one, not just for the Sixers but for the NBA as a whole. The past 48 hours have already seen big trades involving Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, and Zach LaVine. Let’s just hope the Sixers can stay healthy and make some improvements, ultimately leading to more wins.