Sixers Could Move Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre To Create Flexibility

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Philadelphia 76ers want to re-sign Quentin Grimes. However, the Sixers are just $1.3 million under the first apron and $13.2 million under the second apron. Re-signing Grimes would likely bring Philadelphia over the second apron.

That has the 76ers looking at trading Andre Drummond or Kelly Oubre Jr. to create some flexibility under the aprons. With that new space, Philadelphia could re-sign Grimes, then fill out their roster with players on veteran minimum deals.

Drummond is set to make $5 million this season on an expiring contract. Oubre is also on an expiring deal, with his contract being worth $8.4 million.

The challenge with trading either Drummond or Oubre is that both are key players who can fill in when Joel Embiid or Paul George miss time. Both Embiid and George are expected to start training camp at least somewhat limited. In addition, the Sixers play the most back-to-back games in the NBA this season. That means having experienced backups for the two oft-injured veterans is crucial.

Via Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

[uconn83]

looking at their profiles you would never thought they would be Morey type players in the first place.

[Pickled Prunes]

Seems like a ridiculous idea. Those are value contracts and PHI has a depth problem. Nobody has money left to pay Grimes so I don't know where he finds a bigger contract than the $13m PHI could give him while staying under the 2nd apron.

And none of it matters anyway unless they can trade for a PF and move Paul George to the SF position. Outside of the center position, this team is really small. Grimes doesn't help that!

[the_process]

According to Salary Swish, Sixers have about 20M under the 2nd apron. Here's the thing though. If you know Embiid is done... do you really want to pay the tax?

IMO Morey is trying to walk an impossibly fine line of trying to stay out of the tax while keeping Grimes as an asset for a future trade (because remember, they drafted his replacement already).

Don't know how they do that without trading George, Embiid, or Maxey.

[Clav]

Lateral moves are pretty much what PHL will have to accept. They may have to compensate teams to take on even minimal salary.

Simply, something like Oubre +2nd to ORL for Jett Howard.
Charlotte needs a C so they should pick up Drummond for Nick Smith Jr and PHL can sign a C on the free agency list like Biyombo for the vet minimum

[Pickled Prunes]

According to Salary Swish, Sixers have about 20M under the 2nd apron. Here's the thing though. If you know Embiid is done... do you really want to pay the tax?

IMO Morey is trying to walk an impossibly fine line of trying to stay out of the tax while keeping Grimes as an asset for a future trade (because remember, they drafted his replacement already).

Don't know how they do that without trading George, Embiid, or Maxey.

It is possible that Embiid is never right again; it is also possible that he puts together another MVP-like season or two. (Even if he falls short of 65 games.) If PHI ever gets another trade offer for Embiid with a positive return, they need to take it. I feel the same about Zion in NOP. You just can't build a team around a question mark.

I don't think PHI will have the opportunity to get a positive return for PG unless he's balling out in his final year. Probably not even then.

[the_process]

According to Salary Swish, Sixers have about 20M under the 2nd apron. Here's the thing though. If you know Embiid is done... do you really want to pay the tax?

IMO Morey is trying to walk an impossibly fine line of trying to stay out of the tax while keeping Grimes as an asset for a future trade (because remember, they drafted his replacement already).

Don't know how they do that without trading George, Embiid, or Maxey.

It is possible that Embiid is never right again; it is also possible that he puts together another MVP-like season or two. (Even if he falls short of 65 games.) If PHI ever gets another trade offer for Embiid with a positive return, they need to take it. I feel the same about Zion in NOP. You just can't build a team around a question mark.

I don't think PHI will have the opportunity to get a positive return for PG unless he's balling out in his final year. Probably not even then.

I would sell Embiid for peanuts right now. Wash your hands of it and move on. If someone else finds a way to get one or two more productive years out of Joel, good for them.

I still think PG as a name guy will have appeal to the Charlotte type franchises who never get name guys unless one of their draft picks blow up. (And then they usually leave ASAP in FA). However, he's clearly negative value so it would still cost a pick to get a positive player in such a scenario.

[Pickled Prunes]

According to Salary Swish, Sixers have about 20M under the 2nd apron. Here's the thing though. If you know Embiid is done... do you really want to pay the tax?

IMO Morey is trying to walk an impossibly fine line of trying to stay out of the tax while keeping Grimes as an asset for a future trade (because remember, they drafted his replacement already).

Don't know how they do that without trading George, Embiid, or Maxey.

It is possible that Embiid is never right again; it is also possible that he puts together another MVP-like season or two. (Even if he falls short of 65 games.) If PHI ever gets another trade offer for Embiid with a positive return, they need to take it. I feel the same about Zion in NOP. You just can't build a team around a question mark.

I don't think PHI will have the opportunity to get a positive return for PG unless he's balling out in his final year. Probably not even then.

I would sell Embiid for peanuts right now. Wash your hands of it and move on. If someone else finds a way to get one or two more productive years out of Joel, good for them.

I still think PG as a name guy will have appeal to the Charlotte type franchises who never get name guys unless one of their draft picks blow up. (And then they usually leave ASAP in FA). However, he's clearly negative value so it would still cost a pick to get a positive player in such a scenario.

It would probably cost PHI (at least) two 1sts to trade Embiid for expiring contracts today. So I agree, if they could get a bag of peanuts for him they need to take it. But I think he has more value in the league than PG because of the position he plays. Centers don't necessarily need to be mobile to be effective. Embiid specifically could dominate with only one functioning knee. Notice how Porzingis is hanging around and continues to get paid.

On the other hand, if PG can't guard wings he loses half of his value. (Which really has be struggling to understand PHI's determination to miscast him as a PF.) And I don't think PG's name holds much value. He's always been a better player than he has been popular.

I don't think either of these guys could be moved without significant pick compensation, but I like your mention of CHA. Really, the destination would be any tanking team that needs to get to the salary floor and CHA seems to be perpetually in that situation.