By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The NBA trade deadline is approaching quickly (Fri, Feb. 8th at 3 p.m. EST) and the Philadelphia 76ers have been tied to a few different rumors. The Sixers lack wing depth and could use an upgrade off the bench for guys like JJ Redick and Robert Covington. One of the first players Philadelphia was linked to leading up to the deadline was Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Sixers are among the front-runners to land the former 2009 fourth overall pick.
Three frontrunners (Boston, Denver and Philadelphia) and a fourth team (Miami) staying engaged on Memphis' Tyreke Evans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2018
Evans, 28, is a native of Chester, PA, and has been purposely sidelined by Memphis until the trade deadline. In his ninth NBA season, Evan is having one of his best years to date, averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.1 three-pointers across 31.1 minutes. With the Grizzlies out of the Western Conference playoff picture, they'll look to capitalize on Evans' value at its highest.
Memphis has been rumored to be wanting a first-round pick in return for Evans and his expiring contract, which is a steep price for a Sixers team that won't be contending for a championship this season. While Evans does fill the need on the wing for Philadelphia, giving up a first-rounder when you already owe one to Boston in one of the next two seasons is a risky move. The Sixers might be better served building a package around second-round picks and one of their younger bench guys under contract like Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Richaun Holmes or Justin Anderson.
