The Sixers currently sit just a half game back of the NBA play-in tournament, two games back of the eighth seed, and 3.5 games back of the sixth seed which would allow them to avoid the play-in scenario entirely.

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is notorious for his ever-present itch to make a deal and swing a trade to further improve the odds of his teams winning — and this year will be no different. The Sixers will look to maximize their window for contention with Joel Embiid and Paul George. Another all-in move at the trade deadline would go a long way in helping the Sixers try to realize those ambitions of a deep playoff run this season.

With all that being said, what would the Sixers even look for in a trade? What do they need? Many people have pointed to a playmaking guard as the biggest need for the Sixers. While I believe that would help, I don’t believe that is the Sixers’ most pressing need, nor do I believe it’s one that is holding them back from legitimate contention.

Embiid’s gravity makes things easier for everyone. George and Tyrese Maxey’s passing flashes in a more positive manner when the Big 3 is all on the court together when players are better spaced and the reads are simplified. The Sixers should target players that will make life even easier on the Sixers’ three stars and allow them to operate at their highest level. The Sixers’ biggest need is at the forward spot between Embiid and George.

Let’s get to it.

Power Forward

The power forward position has long been discussed as a position of need for this iteration of the Sixers. They’ve mixed and matched different starters at that spot as Caleb Martin, KJ Martin and Guerschon Yabusele have all started there at different points throughout this season.

Yabusele has been a very good role player for the Sixers throughout this season. Yabu, as he is most often referred to, has provided the Sixers with scoring, connective passing, spot up shooting, and quality defense most times in a bench role. KJ Martin has come on of late and started to really find his way to being a positive and consistent contributor to this team, but is now out for at least the next couple weeks. Due to KJ’s salary, he is a prime trade candidate for the Sixers to send out in order to take on a similarly sized salary or an even larger one if consolidated with other players. Caleb Martin has struggled most of this year as he’s battled injury, though he’s started to come alive recently. Caleb is also just better as a more natural wing at the shooting guard or small forward spot as opposed to playing as a more traditional power forward.

So, who are some potential trade targets at this spot?

Herb Jones

The Pelicans’ forward is arguably the best perimeter defender in basketball. Jones stifles opposing guards and wings with smothering on-ball defense. Jones’ great feet, long wingspan, and quick twitch athleticism allow him to blanket ball handlers and take guys completely out of their game. Jones was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team in 2023-2024 and for good reason. It’s not just Jones’ on-ball defense that makes him elite. Jones is an outstanding weak side rim protector, a fantastic event creator, and a stocks machine. You won’t find a better highlight reel or watch film of a wing in the NBA that can top Jones defensively.

Jones is also a legitimate two-way player, averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals a game. Jones is a career 36.4% three-point shooter and one of the best corner three-point shooters in the NBA. Jones shot a career-high 41.8% from three last season on four attempts per game. The most underrated aspect of Jones’ game is his passing ability. Jones often served as a point forward in his time at the University of Alabama and it flashes in the NBA. Jones is great at making the extra pass and has great vision for a forward that spends most of his time off the ball on offense.

Jones would certainly be a hard piece to pry away from the New Orleans Pelicans as he is on a great team-friendly contract, is one of the best role players in the NBA and has yet to enter his prime. However, the Pelicans have discussed a potential extension with Brandon Ingram, extended Trey Murphy before this season, and just traded for Dejounte Murray. If the Sixers decided to go all in and empty the clip on their draft capital, Jones would be a great player to target.

Keegan Murray

Murray is another young, ascending player that would be hard to pry away from his current team. Murray is an excellent rebounder, renowned shooter, and blossoming defender. Murray would fit perfectly with the Sixers at the power forward spot between Embiid and George.

Murray has struggled this year shooting the ball from deep and has not taken the leap offensively that the Kings had expected. While Murray has not ascended offensively, he has defensively. Murray has turned himself into one of the best young wing defenders in the league with the ability to guard multiple positions. Murray’s shooting is of little concern for me as he has always been an excellent shooter and is likely just in a bad slump this season. Murray would provide spacing, rebounding, scoring and defense — all things the Sixers should covet in a potential addition.

Santi Aldama

Aldama is a fourth-year player having a career year off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, shooting a career high 38.8% from three and 50.8% from field. Similar to Jones and Murray, Aldama checks so many boxes for the Sixers as far as filling the needs that they need at the power forward spot. He’s an excellent rebounder, good passer, good shooter and scorer.

Aldama also shows the ability to scale up or down depending on what is asked of him. He can play as a spot-up shooter and off-ball weapon attacking closeouts and making opportunistic cuts. Aldama can also be an offensive hub and play as a go-to option in certain lineups due to his advanced ball skills and ability to score and play make.

Aldama was a star this summer for the Spanish national team and has carried that over into his play with the Grizzlies this year. He’s an expiring contract and will enter restricted free agency in the offseason. The Grizzlies have a lot of money tied up in their core players which could make it very hard for them to retain Aldama so they could look to get something for him at the deadline. He would be a fantastic trade candidate for the Sixers to pounce on.

Cam Johnson

Johnson is having a career year with the Brooklyn Nets. He’s averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game while shooting a career-high 42.9% from beyond the arc and on a career-high volume of nearly eight attempts a game.

Johnson would take the Sixers’ offense to new heights and provide them with the firepower to go toe-to-toe with any team in the NBA. He’s always been known for his three-point marksmanship but is more than just a shooter. Johnson is an adequate wing defender who can guard the forward position. He slots perfectly as an off-ball shooter and scoring wing between George and Embiid and would maximize the spacing for the Sixers’ offense. Johnson is an all-around scorer who can score at all three levels and, like Aldama, can scale up or down depending on the lineup.

Trading for Johnson is a little more complicated due to his salary of $22.5 million. The Sixers would have to send out multiple players in order to match Johnson’s salary and take him in. The Nets have a reported asking price of two first-round picks for Johnson which is a price I think the Sixers should be willing to pay in order to give them one of the best starting fives in all of basketball. Sixers fans and front office got a front row seat to Johnson earlier this season as a he poured in 37 points and hit nine three-pointers in a matchup vs. the Sixers in Philly last month.

Other potential trade targets

Jabari Smith, PF, Houston Rockets

Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kyle Kuzma, PF, Washington Wizards

The Sixers, for better or worse, will be buyers this season barring something unforeseen. Keep an eye on these players as the Sixers try to vault themselves into legitimate contention.