3 players most likely to be dealt

With the Feb. 9 trade deadline fast approaching, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue trades to improve the roster. While the hottest name in the rumor mill right now is Matisse Thybulle, there’s no guarantee the defensive specialist gets dealt.

According to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice, the three Sixers most likely to get traded are Danuel House Jr., Furkan Korkmaz, and Jaden Springer.

The reason for each is not hard to comprehend. House has disappointed massively and is out of the rotation. Furkan Korkmaz has been glued to the bench all season. Both are making upwards of $4 million over this season and next, so any salary dump (or salary match) is likely to involve one or both. Then there’s Springer, who spends most of his time in the G-League and who probably won’t earn the trust of the coaching staff any time soon.

What kind of trades will the 76ers make at the deadline?

Per Neubeck, the Sixers will probe the market for salary-shedding maneuvers to duck the luxury tax. All three of the aforementioned names would be strong candidates in any such deals. That said, the Sixers will reportedly focus first on upgrading the roster. As is the case for almost every NBA team, two-way wings appears to be the primary focus. Backup center is also a position to watch.

In general, it’s somewhat disheartening when a team with genuine title aspirations makes trades for purely financial reasons. Dumping Korkmaz, for example, probably wouldn’t influence Philly’s title odds at all. But he is a depth piece. Springer is perhaps an even better example: the Sixers drafted him as the youngest player in his rookie class, knowing full well he would take time to develop. Shipping him away for nothing could sting down the road if/when he becomes a rotation-level player.

Daryl Morey has been unafraid of taking swings for his entire career. That hasn’t changed in Philadelphia. He has consistently make quality moves to upgrade the roster, even if fans may quibble with a handful of his decisions. If a splashy move does come to fruition, Thybulle is probably punching the ticket. He’s young enough, with enough obvious potential and a strong résumé (two All-Defensive teams), to draw the interest of contenders and rebuilders alike.

Neubeck also notes that Shake Milton is worth keeping an eye on. He’s in the last year of his extremely affordable contract and the Sixers have been blessed with a strong campaign from the SMU product. If there’s any concern about paying him next summer, Morey could be tempted to swap him for a more proven defender or a quality backup center.