In a day that saw the Sixers dump Spencer Hawes, receive a plentiful amount of picks and expiring contracts, Sam Hinkie made the trade that most Sixers fans have been dreaming of for this last season or so. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Sixers will send Turner and Temple product Lavoy Allen to the Pacers for Danny Granger and a 2015 second round pick.
Turner has been the talk of trade speculation for the majority of the season and he heads to a situation with a chance to win a championship. After being selected 2nd overall in the 2010 draft, Turner has not really lived up to the expectations of Sixers fans. This season, he is averaging a career best 17.4 points per game to go along with 3.7 assists and six rebounds.
His career scoring average is a pedestrian 11.5 per contest and as we all know, Turner shoots hot for 4-5 games than goes cold for the next ten. Making $6.7 million this season, Turner will be either a restricted or unrestricted free agent. Indiana will have to decide whether or not they want to make him a qualifying offer.
Going to Indiana along with Turner is Lavoy Allen. Averaging 5.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg in just under 18 minutes a contest, Allen is a free agent after the season. He makes $3.12 this year.
Heading to the Sixers is the former face of the Pacers, Danny Granger. Granger averaged 22.7 points for the Pacers from 2009-12 but only played in five games last season due to left knee issues. In 29 games this season, Granger has averaged 8.3 points on 36 percent shooting. The Sixers do get an improved free throw shooter, as Granger holds a 96% rate from the line this season. Granger led the Pacers in scoring for five straight seasons before getting hurt last year.
UPDATE (4:17PM) – Rumors still swirling about whether or not the Sixers will choose to keep Granger or buy out the remainder of his contract, which is just north of $14 million
Sixers acquire Byron Mullens…The Sixers also made a deal today for center Byron Mullens of the Clippers. Philadelphia sent a second round pick to LA in the deal. Mullins is headed to his to his fourth team in five years. The big man has averaged just 2.5 PPG and 1.2 RPG in 6.2 minutes per game this season. In 53 games last year for Charlotte, Mullens averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Sixers busy day goes beyond Turner trade…They dealt Spencer Hawesto the Cavaliers for Earl Clark, Henry Sims and two second-round picks. Following that, they picked up Eric Maynor and two future second-rounders in a three-team deal with Washington and Denver. Also, they acquired Byron Mullens and a future second-round pick from the Clippers for a conditional second-rounder.
Sam Hinkie has had a hell of a day.
Brandon Apter is a contributor to Sixerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ApterShock
