76ers Trade Deadline Rumors: Who’s In and Who’s Out on Thursday?

With the NBA Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, there are many questions as to who will be a 76er on Thursday by 3:00 p.m. ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a much better start to the season than in the 2024-25 campaign, and this is due to a multitude of reasons. Whether it’s VJ Edgecombe‘s emergence as a rising star, Tyrese Maxey taking the next step as an NBA superstar, or Joel Embiid‘s return to health, the 76ers are poised for an exciting playoff run in April.

The 76ers have three main details in a trade they have made clear: Philly wants to reduce their luxury tax, Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe are essentially untouchable, and Andre Drummond/Eric Gordon are likely on the trade block. So, with that being said, here are some trades that follow these details, which I believe are essential to the 76ers on Thursday’s deadline.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Although this trade is obviously a major reach, when one of the NBA’s best players says he is interested in joining your team, you write back. Antetokounmpo has been arguably the NBA’s best power forward and best player over the last five years, so it would take a significant trade offer to bring him in. The best mock-offer I have seen is:

76ers receive:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bucks receive:

• Paul George
• Jared McCain
• Adem Bona
• 2028, 2029 1st round picks

This trade, although giving up a lot, and with George suspended for the next 24 games makes it tricky, but it would allow the 76ers to roll out a starting lineup of:

Maxey-Edgecobe-Kelly Oubre Jr.-Antetokounmpo-Embiid

Saddiq Bey, Jose Alvarado

Barring any unexpected trades, Giannis is likely the only superstar we could realistically see the 76ers trade for. There are still many other good players who catch our attention. For example, Saddiq Bey. Bey has been a steady and consistent small forward throughout his career, and is currently having his best season yet at 16.5 points per game. The Villanova alum has ties to the city of Philadelphia and would be a great fit in the City of Brotherly Love.

Alongside Bey, his teammate Jose Alvarado would be another great trade candidate. Although Alvarado isn’t having the same level of a season as Bey, he still would be a significant role-player on this squad. Coming off the bench for the Pelicans, he is scoring similar to his career average of 8 PPG.

A potential trade involving these two would be:

76ers receive:

• Jose Alvarado
• Saddiq Bey

Pelicans receive:

• Andre Drummond
• Justin Edwards
• Eric Gordon
• 2029 2nd round pick

Losing Drummond would be tough, but I also believe this would show confidence in Bona, who is likely the Sixers’ backup center for the foreseeable future. Along with this, the 76ers would hold a deep lineup containing:

Maxey, Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, McCain, Alvarado, Oubre, George, Bey, Dominick Barlow, Trendon Watford, Embiid, and Bona.

Tari Eason

Lastly, Houston’s young power forward: Tari Eason. So far this season, Eason is scoring 12 points and 6 rebounds per game; however, as a starter, those numbers jump up to 14 and 7. I see Eason as the best potential trade target for the 76ers, taking into account realism, future potential, and our own ability to do the trade. A great potential trade offer for Eason would look like:

76ers receive:

• Tari Eason

Rockets receive:

• McCain
• Andre Drummond
• 2027 and 2028 2nd round picks

This would leave the 76ers with a potential lineup of:

Starters: Maxey-Edgecombe-Oubre-Eason-Embiid

Bench: Grimes-Gordon-George-Barlow-Watford-Bona

Unfortunately, I am not sure if Daryl Morey has anything planned for this deadline, due to the 76ers vastly outperforming preseason expectations and George’s suspension. But whether it’s a player as mighty as Giannis or the final piece to the lineup like Eason, these trades would all serve the Sixers well for this year and the future.

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