The 2022-23 NBA Trade Deadline is just over a month away (36 days to be exact).
With 25 teams being in or within 2 games of being in the playoffs and two generational stars being in next year’s draft, there is certain to be some movement.
The next month will determine which teams will be buyers and which will be sellers, but the Philadelphia 76ers seem locked into a buyer spot.
Philadelphia is 22-14, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference but just three games out of first place.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is set to return to the lineup as soon as Friday in New Orleans, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Maxey, who's been sidelined since Nov. 18 due to a foot injury, will likely be on a minutes restriction upon return.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 26, 2022
Joel Embiid continues to play at an MVP level and the team is finally whole again after a lengthy absence from Tyrese Maxey.
With Daryl Morey at the helm, all basketball moves are about increasing a team’s opportunity to win a title.
Furkan Korkmaz Gets Traded
A Furkan Korkmaz deal would not be one of the attention-grabbing headline deals on deadline day.
The 6’7″ wing is in his fifth season yet has seen his playing time drop drastically from the past three seasons.
Mainly because Korkmaz is struggling at the one thing he is known for – shooting threes.
After connecting on 39% of his nearly five triple attempts per game in 2019 and 2020, he nosedived to 28.9% last season.
This year, he is sitting at a better, but still not good, 32.4%.
A Korkmaz trade also has a lot to do with the 76ers salary situation.
Jake Fischer and Derek Bodner broke it all down on a recent episode of the “Please Don’t Aggregate This” podcast, but the summary is as follows.
Furkan is making $5 million this season and is set to make $5.3 million next year.
The 76ers currently sit at $1.172 million over the tax.
They could save tens of millions of dollars and find a better rotation player by dangling Korkmaz and some sweetener (if needed).
76ers Do Nothing
The chances of Daryl Morey doing nothing at the trade deadline are, admittedly, low.
Morey is well known for finding impact deals with very little to work with.
Heading into this past offseason, the 76ers chances to improve the roster looked bleak.
Yet Morey walked away with two-way wing De’Anthony Melton, defensive stalwart PJ Tucker, and backup center Montrezl Harrell.
Really like the 76ers outlook going into next season.
Harden & Embiid got humbled + will use that as fuel. Chemistry over the offseason.
Melton provides a much needed spark-plug off the bench in the 2nd unit w/ Paul Reed
PJ Tucker provides wing defense w/ championship pedigree
— Prop Bomb 🏝️ (@PropBomb) July 26, 2022
However, the trade deadline is a different matter.
Philadelphia has just three players making between $5 – $30 million – Korkmaz, Melton, and Tucker.
The former is an option, but the latter two are seemingly untouchable.
Between the lack of mid-level salaries and the dearth of draft picks, Morey has very little to work with.
Morey may hope improved health is equivalent to a trade.
NEXT: 76ers May Have Released One Player Too Soon