NBA Central: “Zach LaVine, OG Anunoby, those are two names to keep an eye on as guys that Philadelphia has monitored.” – @ShamsCharania (Via @RunItBackFDTV )
It will be interesting to see if PHI can pull off anything. They have some pretty chunky contracts on players who aren't that good (what some would call bad contracts). Tobias Harris ($39.2M), Marcus Morris ($17.1M), Batum ($11.7M), Covington ($11.6M).
LaVine makes $40.0M and Annunoby $18.6M but I can't see CHI or TOR wanting any of those PHI players. It isn't clear to me how PHI is going to make a big trade.
I think the path to a trade is pretty easy, honestly. If, say, Philly offered an expiring contract, the best of its 2026 picks, and another #1, I think they could land either player.
Maybe LaVine, he is a bad contract at this point in his own right, but why would TOR give up Annunoby for a player that would be no help or part of the future along with draft picks in 3 years or more? Didn't they refuse to include him even for Lillard? We'll see I guess. I am sure that PHI will try.
I wonder how LaVine would work out on PHI. Their most used line up to date is:
N. Batum (Oubre)
T. Harris
J. Embiid
D. Melton
T. Maxey
Oubre is in for Batum often also. Don't see where LaVine fits in with that. PHI would likely need to give up Harris to make it work. They don't really need more shoot first guards. Annunoby over Batum would be a nice upgrade, but that would still be a pretty small line up. I never bought into Harris in the PF role, but trading him for a guard is going the wrong direction.
Maybe PHI will make a run at Zion?