Jalen Smith is very talented and could be on the trading block this year. It could be nice to see him join Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia 76ers have added so many players and revamped the entire roster it’s hard to imagine the team bringing anyone else on. But what if they did?
The Sporting News surely thinks they might. In their bold prediction, they believe the team could make a trade for center Jalen Smith. This actually could be spot on for them. The 76ers are definitely thin when it comes to the center position. Smith would allow for some flexibility and be a better fit for the team. He has that shooting ability and speed and athleticism to be a friendly addition to the team.
With him playing for a lackluster team like the Chicago Bulls, it would be an easy sell for the 76ers. The thing is, who would they trade away in order to get him? You would obviously have to keep the core stars intact, so that would leave your bench. There’s a good chance some of the backup centers are on the chopping block, but there’s surely a key name that would have to go.
It’s hard to imagine, but there could be a possibility to trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to make it happen. His salary would be easy to push off considering it's a one-year deal worth 3.8 million. Green’s salary may be a bit higher, but he’s only making $9.4 million.
It would be this kind of move that would completely solidify the 76ers as a strong favorite. The center position is their one glaring hole within the roster. Joel Embiid is clearly the starter, but he may not always be available. While his backups, Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti, are serviceable, the team is going to need more of them if they want to get to the playoffs.
It’s sensible for a move like this, even if they give up a valuable player to do so. Embiid will want to do everything he can to be on the floor; it’s just not trustworthy. The team has already made moves to try to put a bandage on the depth by adding Tacko Fall, but that's just to get through training camp as of now.
Philadelphia’s front office will have some time to do their homework before making any type of decision. But they shouldn’t wait too long, as the talent is scarce, and if they can’t get a trade done, they’ll have to rely on the free agent pool.
