4 Last-Minute Trades the 76ers Should Seriously Consider

The 2024 NBA Draft is just a day away, and while experts are alluding to it as perhaps one of the weakest rookie classes in recent years, it still offers teams opportunities to improve their prospects. The Philadelphia 76ers, owners of the 16th overall pick, will also have crucial decisions to make.

However, given the posture of the front office, it is increasingly unlikely that the 76ers will be in the driver’s seat when they make their pick. Multiple reports have already pointed out that the team’s preference is to trade their first-round pick for a win-now product. So, here are four last-minute trades they can make regarding the 16th pick.

San Antonio, owner of picks No. 4 And Number 8 is a near-guarantee of emerging from the draft as a big winner. Led by Victor Wembanyama, Spurs have a great chance to further improve their young core as they could start trying to make some noise in the league as early as next season. Hell, what’s stopping them from trying to get even richer?

One scenario the 76ers should consider is flipping their 16th overall pick, along with some negligible sweeteners, for Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ leading scorer before the French phenom’s arrival. Gregg Popovich and company. should be pretty warm to the idea of ​​trading the sturdy wing, as his skill set involves profiles that fit oddly next to Wembanyama and their other key cogs.

Johnson, however, has the style to thrive in Philadelphia. Not only does he fill a pressing need at the wing and forward positions, but he’s a win-now rotation player who is still quite young and should see his best years ahead of him. Plus, his contract is pretty team-friendly and he has the upside of being a big upgrade over Kelly Oubre Jr., even if his defense needs a lot of work.