In a Planned Upgrade, the 76ers land a highly sought-after Point Guard

Grade the Trade: 76ers land widely coveted point Guard in Proposed Upgrade

 

Needing firepower in the playmaking department, the Philadelphia 76ers trade for this widely coveted point guard in this proposal.

Tyrese Maxey

When healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers have already proven that they should be in the conversation among true championship contenders in the league this season. As such, the trade chatter around the team has become much quieter in recent weeks, with the rest of the league apparently of the belief that the franchise could simply shy away from the limelight and maintain flexibility heading into the offseason.

While that may be the case, it’s untenable to expect Daryl Morey and company to resist the urge to upgrade the roster at the right cost. This team may not have any glaring weakness on paper and from the eye test, but no one wants to punt this season. Bolstering their case for the title will be of utmost importance this season as well.

The 76ers should trade for another playmaking guard before the deadline

The easiest area to pinpoint as Philadelphia’s biggest need before the trade deadline is the playmaking department. While Tyrese Maxey has grown exponentially as a table setter and Joel Embiid has blossomed into a more well-rounded passer, beyond those two, the 76ers do not have someone who can really control the pace and settle the team down in half-court situations.

As a result, the 76ers should be in the market for a playmaking guard. Between now and the trade deadline, the front office should seriously consider pooling some of their expendable assets for an ideal backcourt partner for Maxey or a primary creator off the bench. Here is one trade proposal that has tem landing a widely coveted point guard.

76ers trade for veteran point guard in proposed upgrade

Philadelphia 76ers LogoPhiladelphia 76ers
RECEIVE

G Tyus Jones
F/C Mike Muscala
2026 Second-Round Pick (Via CHI)
Washington Wizards LogoWashington Wizards
RECEIVE

F Robert Covington
F KJ Martin
2026 First-Round Pick (Via OKC, HOU Or LAC)

In this pitched deal, the Philadelphia 76ers acquire guard Tyus Jones, big man Mike Muscala, and a 2026 second-rounder via the Bulls from the Eashington Wizards for veteran forward Robert Covington, wing KJ Martin, and a 2026 first-round pick (the least favorable between the Thunder, Rockets, and Clippers).

A popular trade candidate, Tyus Jones has remained the most efficient ball handler and passer in the league, leading all players in assist-to-turnover ratio for an absurd sixth straight season. The Wizards may have been absolute bonkers so far, but the heady point guard has still been as advertised. It’s no coincidence that Washington has him on the trade market ans has set a considerable price tag for prospective buyers.

Meanwhile, the 76ers haven’t had a consistent role for the veteran Covington, leading him straight to Nick Nurse’s dog house. With Nicolas Batrum, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Marcus Morris Sr. all playing ahead of him in the rotation, he and his expiring contract should be very easy to move. Ditto for KJ Martin, who was already rumored to be available for plucking.

What are the pros and cons of this trade for the 76ers? Let’s zoom in.

Why the 76ers should trade for Tyus Jones

The Philadelphia 76ers have the sixth-ranked offense through 37 games, but they have operated largely through a heliocentric attack dependent on Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey’s ability to make plays for their own and for others. As a result, the team only ranks 22nd in assists per outing while raking in the third-most isolation plays on a nightly basis.

Offensive variance is something the 76ers can improve on, and this can be achieved by trading for a player who can organize them in the half-court and ignite the attack on the break. And what better stud to target than the player who has been the most efficient with the ball and as a passer in the last six seasons?

Tyus Jones may not be a household name, but he has carved a reputation for himself as one of, if not the league’s best backup point guard who can start when needed, as most notable in his stint with the Grizzlies. His skill set pairs well with Tyrese Maxey, as he can unburden him from setting the table from his teammates in long spurts while remaining a factor without the ball with his 43.1 percent shooting from three-point range.

Alternatively, the 76ers can trot him out as the lead playmaker off the bench, which currently has a dearth of facilitators. That way, Nick Nurse and the coaching staff will have some more legroom to mobilize the bench more, as the team is currently dead-last in bench scoring and minutes per outing.

Meanwhile, Philly is not paying a premium for his services. Covington and Martin are easy cuts, and that 2026 first-rounder is not as sterling as it seems atop the fact that the team already owns their pick in that specific year.

Why the 76ers should steer clear of Tyus Jones

Washington may not have any lofty plans this season, but their front office is looking into liquidating most of their non-core players before the trade deadline. And as reported, the Wizards have set a relatively steep price for some of their players, most especially Tyus Jones, who’s expected to command quite the lengthy list of suitors.

In fact, in anticipation of what it could take to bid for his services, the 76ers are already rumored to be sidestepping. Giving up first-round picks is a huge no-no for Philadelphia’s brass at this juncture, which is understandable given their desire to maximize flexibility ahead of free agency this summer.

For a player on an expiring deal like Jones, flipping a first-rounder will always be risky. After all, he’s still a role player at the core, and a bona fide flight risk at that who is unlikely to be retained beyond this season.

At that price, Philly may be better off haggling for other players with more staying power and ceiling-raising ability without huge cap repercussions, such as Dejounte Murray. Alternatively, staying put and setting up for better options in the near future is definitely not a bad idea.

Grade: B-

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*