The NBA trade deadline passed this afternoon, and the Sixers were by far the most active team in the league as they made 4 deals, shed a few unpopular players, and added approximately 17 second round picks. Let's break these trades down deal by deal.
1. Spencer to The Cavs for Earl Clark and 2 Second Round Picks
This was the first deal Sixers GM Sam Hinkie made today, and it should have been a sign of the times. Not a single 1st round pick was traded today as teams were super conservative. In fact, the entire build-up to the deadline was bizarrely cautious. For instance, I kept reading the market was limited for Spencer and Evan due to their imminent free agent status, but in the same places I read teams were scared off by the money and time left on Thad's deal. So which is it? In the end, it appears Hinkie got what he could for a player who was never a part of the team's plans going forward anyway, adding two selections in the second round of the upcoming draft.
GOOD TRADE!
2. 76ers Trade Nothing for Eric Maynor and 2 Second Round Picks
The Sixers have hoarded cap space all season leading to this moment, absorbing a player the other teams don't want and charging a fee for doing business. Still, Eric Maynor ain't bad for a throw in (or I always think of him fondly since I had a kickass 2k10 team with him as the backup PG) considering we don't really have a backup PG, plus we added second round picks in the 2015 and 2016 drafts.
GOOD TRADE!
3. Sixers Trade a Conditional 2nd Round Pick for Byron Mullins
We essentially got Byron Mullins for free, since I always assume "conditional second" means top 59 protected. Not sure what this was about, it was either taking Mullins to help the Clippers out, or it was getting a large body since Spencer was gone and Lavoy was on the block. Either way, I am NOT a Mullins guy, since he is basically Spencer Hawes if Spencer forgot how to shoot 3's.
Not a GOOD TRADE, but not BAD either, Final Verdict: MEH! (can you emphasize meh?)
4. Evan and Lavoy to Indy for Granger and Another 2nd Rounder
It is hard to put my feelings into words during the moments after I found out that Evan was gone , I guess my feelings can be best summed up in this video:
I was tempted to write something nasty about Evan and the horse he rode in on, but instead let's just say Evan had worn out his welcome in Philly and move on.
GOOD TRADE!
5. Thad Young Was Not Traded, An Inventory Of The Survivors
So where do we stand? Is Thad here for the next couple of seasons, or is he trade bait on draft night? Many questions still lurk in Sixer land, but here is one that needs answered sooner rather than later, what is our starting lineup Friday? My best guess would be MCW, Wroten, Granger, Young, and Hawes, Brown, Dedmon, Orton, Henry Sims or Byron Mullins. Ewwwww. I think I want Spencer back. Either that or Nerlens needs to gets his skinny ass on the floor ASAP.
6. SIXERS!!!!
I am a Sixer for life in my heart. So even in the shittiest of seasons on the floor, I remain excited because I believe in the direction of the team. I'm excited to meet the new Sixers and a part of me will miss the old guys, no matter how frustrating Evan they could be. So as a true fan, let me say thanks:
- To Evan– You won game 2 against Boston with a circus shot and it was freaking awesome! In fact, you always were great against Boston, but game 2 will be the one I remember most.
- To Lavoy– You gave KG fits in that same series. You were the home town kid, and you went toe-to-toe with a hall of famer, great stuff.
- To Spencer- I think I'm going to miss you most of all. Opening night 2012, you were awesome, and me and my buddy Tim got an MVP chant going for you. That game against Milwaukee, everyone will remember that one-legged fall-away three-pointer, but you killed that entire final 2 minutes and it was amazing. Oh, and that pump fake that sent Noah flying past midcourt just before you buried a jumper to knock off the Bulls, just awesome.
So dedicated to all my Sixers past, present, and future let's all share a song.
Thanks for reading.
