While teams across the NBA have already begun to upgrade their rosters, with the Knicks signing Mikal Bridges, the Thunder trading for Alex Caruso and the Pelicans bringing in Dejounte Murray, the Philadelphia 76ers have been quiet so far. Daryl Morey has so far chosen to keep his powder dry, but he’ll need to make his big move soon if he wants the Sixers to be a championship contender next season.
The Sixers need high-caliber starters alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid and have the salary cap and trade options to bring them to Philadelphia. One name they should go all out and make a huge offer for is Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Jazz are not actively trying to deal him, but are listening to offers.
Woj talks about Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz. Teams are aggressively trying to trade him. The Jazz want to keep him, but they’re listening.
So everything here is status quo. pic.twitter.com/05Z47Eq6YV
– David J. Smith (@davidjsmith1232) June 29, 2024
It sounds like the Jazz need an offer they can’t refuse to trade Markkanen. The Sixers should make that offer to Utah.
Philadelphia can offer up to five first-round draft picks for Markkanen, plus rookies Jared McCain and Adem Bona. Considering that was the offer Mikal Bridges asked for when he joined the Knicks, that should be enough to get Markkanen as well.
Markkanen is a perfect fit with Maxey and Embiid. He is an elite shooter with great positional size. He is an excellent off-ball player and cutter who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective. He can defend forwards quite well.
Plus, he’s only making $18 million in the 2024-25 season. That means the Sixers would still have enough cap room to sign another All-Star player or several good supporting players. Philadelphia would have to give Markkanen a contract extension, but since he’s only 27, Daryl Morey should be happy to offer him one.
There is no perfect solution for what the Sixers need to do this offseason, but Lauri Markkanen is as close as it gets due to his age, on-court form and contract structure. It would be unforgivable if Morey didn’t seize this opportunity.
