The Philadelphia 76ers are desperate to trade Evan Turner. The team has been shopping the young guard and while multiple teams appear very interested, the 76ers have yet to pull the trigger on a deal. The Charlotte Bobcats have serious interest in acquiring Turner and are offering a package that may sway the minds of Philadelphia.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the Bobcats have offered Philadelphia Ben Gordon and a first-round draft to acquire Turner. The first-round draft could be the one from Portland which will be later in the round or it could be the pick from Detroit which should be relatively early in the first round.
The Bobcats have been trying to shop Gordon in potential trade packages. The guard is owed $13.2 million on an expiring contract. That is certainly a lot of money to take on for Philadelphia who is more concerned about the draft pick compensation than the actual player. With the addition of a decent 2014 first-round pick, it might be enough to persuade the 76ers to make the deal happen.
Grantland's Zach Lowe reports the Bobcats are very serious about trying to get this deal done quickly. Philadelphia has been shuffling in regards to what they want in return for Turner. The team looks poised to wait until the absolute last minute before agreeing to a trade, which is why Charlotte is trying to push the Gordon package on the team.
Charlotte is towing the line on a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference. The team is in the play for the final spot and acquiring Turner could be just what they need for a late-season push. Right now, they are in eighth, sitting 1 ½ games back from Brooklyn. An eighth place finish will have the Bobcats meeting up with either the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, something the team would love to avoid. Charlotte finishing seventh means playing Atlanta or Toronto instead.
Acquiring Turner would give the Bobcats a solid wing player who can score. Pairing him next to Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker could be a solid rotation for Charlotte. Turner would likely only be a rental for Charlotte, but could at least get the team into the postseason.
