With Joel Embiid out attributable to a knee harm, the 76ers had robust choices to make on the deadline. They selected to keep away from the posh tax.
First, they flipped Patrick Beverley to the rival Milwaukee Bucks, the place he’ll play for his previous Clippers coach, Doc Rivers. They obtained the cheaper Cam Payne within the deal.
Then they despatched the Detroit Pistons a second-round choose to shed Danuel House‘s contract.
Philadelphia additionally dealt Jaden Springer for a second-rounder to a different rival, the Boston Celtics.
Their greatest transfer was sending a package deal of backups and second-round picks to the Indiana Pacers for sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
The tip outcome was that Philadelphia misplaced 5 gamers, added two gamers and obtained far sufficient underneath the posh tax that they may signal a buyout participant, resembling Charlotte Hornets guard Kyle Lowry. The outcome was not that the Sixers turned a greater workforce.
Embiid had surgery this week to restore his injured meniscus, however he will not even be evaluated to return for an additional 4 weeks. Primarily based on these strikes, it would not seem to be the Sixers expect a full-strength Embiid for the playoffs.
However they are going to have an incredible quantity of monetary freedom this summer season. Solely Embiid is signed previous this season. Whereas Tyrese Maxey is due an enormous contract, the Sixers have maximized their cap area for the summer season.
There was one complicating issue that might have thrown a wrench within the plans. Huge man Paul Reed has a non-guaranteed $7.7M deal for subsequent season, however it might turn into assured if the Sixers have been to win a playoff spherical. Is it potential that workforce president Daryl Morey needed max cap area so badly that he tanked the workforce’s playoff probabilities? That would clarify Thursday’s weird collection of strikes.