The Philadelphia 76ers' front office has been urged to execute a team-rattling trade for a Western Conference swingman.
Philadelphia's front office, led by team president Daryl Morey, might want to consider all the advice it can get, after a stunning, injury-fueled nosedive into the lottery last season.
The team had expected to contend for its first NBA Finals appearance since 2001, with nine-time All-Star Paul George and 3-and-D swingman Cody Martin joining All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Instead, both Embiid and George suffered injuries requiring surgery, while Maxey dealt with a lingering finger injury. Martin was flipped to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline for young guard Quentin Grimes, who remains unsigned deep into restricted free agency.
The Sixers finished with a miserable 24-58 record, but lucked into a top lottery pick for their trouble.
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Morey selected former Baylor Bears shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe to bolster their exciting young backcourt. Edgecombe, 20, joins 24-year-old Maxey, Grimes and 21-year-old combo guard Jared McCain.
Nicolas Kyle Pring of FanSided's The Sixer Sense submits that Philadelphia should consider shoring up its defensive depth along the wing, with the 35-year-old George aging out of his usefulness on that end of the floor.
Specifically, Pring advocates for Philadelphia trading to acquiring New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, a solid defensive player who's been coming into his own on the other end of late.
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"Trey Murphy, who just posted his strongest campaign last season, has become one of the most highly-sought commodities in the trade market," Pring writes. "Rumors point to the Pelicans having already gotten some calls regarding a move for the 25-year-old, although their front office, valuing him highly, has not fielded any offers just yet."
Lsat season, the 6-foot-8 combo forward averaged a career-best 21.2 points on .454/.361/.887 shooting splits, plus 5.1 boards, 3.5 dishes, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks a night.
Murphy may not have quite such a big offensive role were he to be moved to Philadelphia, but it's encouraging he can provide that kind of help consistently if called upon to do so.
"Should the 76ers cozy up to the idea of parting with one of their prized guards, Murphy should be someone the front office should laser in on in return," Pring adds. "He would be a dream fit next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, offering much better availability and malleability than, say, George at this point."
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