The Philadelphia 76ers came into this NBA season as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. Even with Joel Embiid‘s MVP season, they couldn’t quite make it.
For the third time in as many years, the Sixers’ Doc Rivers era ended in the second round of the playoffs with a loss. Despite firing their coach, the team may have underlying problems that need the addition of multiple new players throughout the summer.
If James Harden leaves, as has been speculated, it might become much more apparent. Keeping that in mind, let’s examine three alternative objectives they may pursue.
3. Dorian Finney-Smith
The Sixers need to accept the reality that they have outgrown Tobias Harris and find a replacement. Now that he’s nearing the last year of his deal, he might be traded for a number of draft selections.
They may then go for Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the finest wing-stoppers in the league, to replace Al Horford as their starting small forward, and deploy him mostly against Jayson Tatum and/or Jaylen Brown.
2. Kyrie Irving
Considering Daryl Morey’s history as an aggressive businessman, we can’t completely exclude this possibility, even if it defies logic.
Kyrie Irving, a free agency, may be a good fit to replace James Harden, giving the 76ers another explosive scorer and excellent ball-handler to play with Joel Embiid, despite the obvious dangers involved.
1. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard’s name has been bandied around in trade rumors involving many clubs, notably the Philadelphia 76ers, for quite some time. The veteran James Harden would benefit greatly from his addition.
Lillard has expressed his desire to not be a part of a rebuild by the Portland Trail Blazers, and trading him would make sense for both sides.
