Evan Turner has been one of the most mentioned players at the NBA trade deadline and rumors have the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets as options for the Philadelphia 76ers coming into the February 20 deal deadline.
The Sixers have long been thought of as a team that would be active at the trading deadline, as they are in the middle of a massive rebuild under general manager Sam Hinkie and Turner is predicted as the player most likely to get traded. Turner was a former number two overall pick and with him averaging 17.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season, USA Today reports that he is a target for a number of teams, including ones in playoff contention. The report says that the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers could be options, while the Charlotte Bobcats have also reportedly been interested and a proposal from Pro Basketball Talk included an exchange involving Ben Gordon and draft picks.
The Sixers have Turner along with Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes as their best assets and Hinkie reportedly wants draft picks in any deal and that could make the Phoenix Suns a good match. The Suns have multiple first round draft picks and could be willing to part with one to the Sixers since they are one of the most surprising teams in the league and are in position to make the playoffs in the west. The Bobcats have shown interest in Turner as well, while the Suns have been connected to Young in numerous trade rumors, but so far no deal is imminent.
Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Sixers will not part with any of their big three trading chips in Turner, Young or Hawes for anything less than a first round draft pick and that could limit the teams they deal with. The Sixers have been holding firm on having a first round draft pick in the deal and while the Spurs may not want to part with a pick that high, they have been hit particularly hard by the injury bug this season, with names like Tiago Splitter, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green all going down at various points and with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan getting much older, they will need some extra support heading into the postseason in the top of the western conference.
Turner is set to become a free agent this offseason and that could be one reason why teams aren't willing to give up much for him at this point, but that could change as the February 20 deadline date gets closer. SB Nation reports that the Sixers could hang on to Turner if they don't get a first round pick, as they would rather do that than give him up for lesser value when he will just end up being a free agent over the summer.
