Justin Champagnie is one bargain trade target the 76ers should keep an eye on

The Philadelphia 76ers are still in the middle of the preseason, but that should not stop the front office from taking a look at players who could pique their interest as trade targets later on. After all, this roster could still use some more smoothing around the margins. A couple of areas they should look to bolster are rebounding and perimeter defense. Fortunately, there is one role player who can give them a healthy dose of both –– Justin Champagnie.

Probably the lesser known half of the Champagnie twins, Justin –– who is the older one by a hair –– shares some similarities with Julian, although he has some pronounced strengths of his own. He has been one of the feel-good stories for the Wizards over the last couple of years, emerging as a staple for them in their rotation with his defensive prowess and proficiency on the boards.

The 76ers should seriouly consider Justin Champagnie as a trade target

Champagnie, who stands at 6’6″, has good size and range for a wing, but his skill set makes him a tenable option as a forward. On defense, he can guard different positions. He is rarely caught out of position, and he has the foot speed and the length to especially bother opposing guards and wings. The 76ers need more defense, and the Pittsburgh product brings exactly that.

It is actually rebounding, which is arguably his best trait, though. Last season, he was in the 87th percentile among all players when it comes to collecting boards, averaging nearly six rebounds a night in just 20 minutes on average. He is even more potent as an offensive rebounder, averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, which is the highest rate of any active NBA player measured at 6’6″ or shorter.

Of course, the 76ers have no use for a one-way player. Fortunately, Champagnie is not a helpless case on the offensive end. While he is only a career 34.6 percent three-point shooter, his perimeter shot is far from broken and could benefit from more volume. He is also a smart cutter, which is another sub-trait the team needs from a complementary player.

For these reasons, the front office should seriously consider taking a closer look at Justin Champagnie as a trade target this season. He is on a very modest contract, but more importantly, his skill set simply fits this team like a glove. There are very few players in the league who can impact winning in a less expensive package like him.