With the Philadelphia 76ers currently ailing due to numerous key players (most notably Joel Embiid) being bit by the injury bug, the pressure has now become much stronger for the front office to deliver on the transaction table, especially with the trade deadline now only a week away.

Previous prognostications of the 76ers potentially standing pat for the most part due to their early success — when healthy — should now come to rest. After all, the teams previously behind them are starting to creep up in the standings, giving them a pressing reason to size up and have a leg up against their rivals as they approach the midseason point.

With numerous key players injured, the 76ers are more likely to make a trade before the deadline

Fortunately for Philly, this year’s delegation of trade candidates find no shortage of talent on both ends. And with the franchise having a deep war chest of assets ranging from draft capital, expiring contracts, and dispensable young players, the safe bet is on the front office eventually managing to strike a deal one way or the other.

The 76ers were previously rumored to be in the market for more help in the backcourt, which has become an even more urgent thing to address due to Tyrese Maxey having nagging injuries as of late. Let’s examine and rate a trade proposal that has the team landing a veteran guard that can inarguably help them, especially in the playoffs.

76ers trade for All-NBA defender in this proposed shakeup

In this trade proposed by our friends from Bleacher Report, the Philadelphia 76ers acquire veteran guards Alex Caruso and Jevon Carter from the Chicago Bulls for forward Marcus Morris Sr., an unprotected first-round pick this year, a second-rounder this year via the Knicks, and another second-round pick in 2027.

Caruso has been one of, if not the hottest commodity in the trade market since the season began. A member of the All-Defensive First Team last season, he has once again stood out as one of the league’s premiere defenders this time around despite the Chicago Bulls posting a losing record as of writing.

In addition, Carter has also been a serviceable role player for Chicago in his first year with the team, though his minutes are down from his previous stint with the Bucks last season. Meanwhile, Marcus Morris Sr. is one of the 76ers’ easiest players to flip for assets, as he’s on an expiring contract.

How does this trade fare for the 76ers? Let’s zoom in a bit more.

Why the 76ers should trade for Alex Caruso

When it comes to justifying a trade for Alex Caruso, there only lies a surplus of reasons and no shortages of such. As one of the lowest-maintenance, high-end role players the association boasts, there’s almost no situation where trading for him flirts with futility.

With Maxey and De’Anthony Melton going down to injuries in recent weeks, the 76ers have to make it an emphasis to bolster their guard rotation. That’s pretty elementary. Patrick Beverley and Jaden Springer can only do so much, and better yet, Caruso (and Carter) collaboratively profile as an upgrade over those two.

Not even an impending logjam should throw the 76ers off in this regard. Caruso’s defensive prowess and frame makes him a legitimate multi-positional defender who can guard any perimeter player and even capably function when latched onto bigs in spurts. In this era of making concessions on defense, he concedes none, and he doesn’t need to gamble to make an impact defensively.

Flipping a first-rounder (and two seconds) for a role player seems extortionate, but Philadelphia has no choice than to go big on their offer condering Caruso’s lengthy queue of suitors. Still, the 76ers plan to improve the roster through free agency anyway, making their draft pick this year a bit more disposable than usual.

Why the 76ers should not trade for Alex Caruso

Normally, it would be quite a trek to pinpoint a specific reason not to trade for Alex Caruso, but the Philadelphia 76ers were recipients of a potentially season-changing development just recently in the form of Joel Embiid’s injury.

His MRI’s results are still pending, but should it show any grisly scenario, the 76ers’ plans in the trade market should have a seismic change. After all, despite organizational pressure to win a championship as soon as possible, it’s simply unwise to throw away draft picks if the diagnosis doesn’t favor Embiid.

In that case, the more sensible move would be for the 76ers to slowly move into being on seller mode before the deadline instead of being rampant buyers. Their core is set anyway, and with grander plans set on free agency, maintaining flexibility financially and assets-wise would set them up much better in the summer.

And while we’re nitpicking anyway, the fact that a logjam could also unfold either way could eventually prompt the 76ers to look elsewhere should they remain on the hunt. After all, they also need major insurance in the center position considering Embiid’s health.

Grade: A-

Nevertheless, this trade proposal is pretty harmless notwithstanding what happens with Embiid. The 76ers should jump at an opportunity to add any floor-raising role player, especially one who comes cheap and is not a mere late-season rental like Alex Caruso.