The Philadelphia 76ers have been shopping several of their core group of players for most of the trading period. With the deadline quickly approaching less than a month away, the team has centered their efforts around Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes, leaving Thaddeus Young the one that returns. The Phoenix Suns are looking to be active traders as well and the two times might have struck a deal.
The Phoenix Suns are currently in contention for a playoff spot. After not expecting much out of this season, the team is the sixth seed in the Western Conference, just four games behind the Los Angeles Clippers in the Pacific Division. The opportunity to capitalize is there, leaving the team to target a big name to help compete for the second-half of the year.
According to Chuck Myron over at HoopsHype.com, the Suns are looking at Turner and possibly Young or Hawes. Phoenix is willing to send Emeka Okafor and first-round draft picks to Philadelphia. This could be the package the 76ers have been looking for considering the team has made it known they want to stock up on draft picks for the future.
Okafor could be the perfect addition to Philadelphia, simply because his contract is expiring. The center is set to earn $14.5 million in the final year of his contract. Any team that takes him on can renounce his rights at the end of the summer and clear a large amount of cap space. This would fit well into Philadlephia's plans for a free agency push after the draft.
Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough has said the team is willing to part with one or more of their four first-round picks in exchange of a star player aka Turner. Also a short-term rental, Turner is a free-agent-to-be, benefiting the Suns.
Turner would be the best available player in any potential trades for the Suns. Phoenix has explored options with the Boston Celtics for players like Avery Bradley or Brandon Bass, but Turner would be the biggest upgrade to help with a big playoff push by the team.
McDonough is aware that any Western Conference teams are likely going to be unwilling to make trades as the team is quietly on the rise. However, Eastern Conference teams looking to rebuild over the summer are the perfect target and the Philadelphia 76ers might just be willing to strike up a deal.
