The Philadelphia 76ers could be active at the trade deadline this season, as Michael Carter-Williams has been shopped and names like Joel Embiid, Andrei Kirilenko and Tony Wroten all could be potential targets, as teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics and LA Clippers could be interested in making moves.
Williams was shopped earlier in the season and according to reports, the Sixers are looking to deal him ahead of the trading deadline. According to ESPN.com, Williams was on the trade block for the Sixers back in June and reports had the Lakers as one of the teams that was interested in making a deal. The team also could look at moving Joel Embiid, as Philly.com reports that the Sixers hve not been happy with his conditioning and how he has been handling himself while injured.
The report from Keith Pompey of Philly.com says that Embiid has a serious weight problem and issues with conditioning while coming back from a foot injury. Embiid is 50 pounds heavier than he was last season at Kansas, ballooning to 300 pounds and the team also sent Embiid home during a recent road trip because of a "blowup" was the assistant strength and conditioning coach.
The Sixers wanted Dante Exum according to some reports, but he ended up going to the Jazz and the Sixers took Embiid with their number three overall pick. The Sixers likely wanted to capitalize on the strong rookie season by Williams, as they are in as hard of a rebuild as anyone and could turn him into a draft pick or some players. Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists last season while winning the award and some scouts think he was able to pad his stats while playing for a bad team. Either way, Carter-Williams is being shopped now, as Chad Ford at ESPN.com writes that the team is looking to move him, as the front office doesn't see him as the long term point guard.
Ford writes that a deal is not close to getting done right now, as the team has a high asking price for Williams, but that could come down as the deadline gets closer. This season Williams came back from an injury and is averaging 15.3 points, 7.2 assists and 4.4 turnovers per game while shooting less than 39 percent from the field. Williams could develop into a strong option for teams, as the Knicks, Pacers and Rockets all could use some point guard help. Pro Basketball Talk also reports that the Lakers and Miami Heat also could be strong fits.
The Celtics reportedly had their eye on Embiid in the draft if he slipped past the top three and they could look at acquiring him since they have so many draft picks. The team was happy to take Marcus Smart, as Danny Ainge said he was the top player in their scouting reports and that proved wise after the team traded Rajon Rondo.
