The Philadelphia 76ers could entertain trade offers for three key contributors to their rotation ahead of February's trade deadline.
The Philadelphia 76ers (23-18) are thriving in their latest stretch of games.
They have won seven of their last 11 matchups, including victories over the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks. With the team shining and Joel Embiid finally beginning to look like his former self, the Sixers could become a bit more aggressive than most expect at February’s trade deadline.
76ers Predicted To Shop Jared McCain, Quentin Grimes, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
It’s no secret Philadelphia’s backcourt is loaded with talent. It has youthful players such as V.J. Edgecombe and Jared McCain, while also being home to established stars Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes. The front office could view it as the team's greatest strength or as an opportunity to improve other areas of the roster.
Bleacher Report predicts it to be the latter of the two routes, as Andy Bailey believes the 76ers could move Grimes, McCain, and Kelly Oubre Jr. at the deadline if the team decides to be buyers.
“So instead of shedding salary, Philly might be able to do something pretty splashy by combining the salaries of Kelly Oubre and/or Quentin Grimes with the potential of Jared McCain,” Bailey wrote.
The article did not go on to mention who the 76ers would be packaging these pieces for. Options will be limited because the contracts of Oubre, Grimes, and McCain add up to roughly $20 million annually.
Although Grimes has certainly regressed from his stellar 2024-2025 campaign in Philadelphia, he is still performing strongly. He is averaging 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 43.3% shooting and 35.5% shooting from three-point range in 39 appearances. Grimes is on a one-year, $8 million contract, so the team acquiring him would need to be prepared to hand out a lucrative extension. Chances are a team would be banking on Grimes returning to his 21.9 points per game from a season ago in a starting role.
Meanwhile, McCain has found himself in a sophomore slump. After a rookie year cut short by injury, the 76ers held heavy faith in McCain to improve from his robbed Rookie of the Year campaign. Fast forward to the midway point of the regular season, and some would argue the organization should regret not trading him when his value was highest. He is averaging just 6.1 points and 1.5 assists on 35.4% shooting in 31 games played.
If the Sixers continue trending in the right direction in the coming weeks, acting as buyers at the trade deadline is a solid plan given how wide open the Eastern Conference is.
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