Report: Sixers shopping Danny Green, No. 23 pick for possible trades
The Philadelphia 76ers own the No. 23 pick in the 2022 NBA draft after the Brooklyn Nets decided to defer the pick they acquired in the James Harden trade until 2023. The pick gives the Sixers an option to either make the selection or they can use it in a trade.
Now, some might wonder about how Philadelphia can trade their 2022 first-round pick when the Nets own their 2023 first-round pick and there is a rule in place that a team can’t trade first-round picks in consecutive years.
In this case, the Sixers can make a deal with a team in principle including the pick and they can then make a selection on draft night for the team they made the deal with. That makes the No. 23 pick an asset that president Daryl Morey can use for the future.
Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Philadelphia is shopping both that pick as well as veteran Danny Green in possible trades while updating his mock draft. He has the Sixers selecting Blake Wesley out of Notre Dame.
O’Connor writes:
The Sixers are exploring trades involving this pick and Danny Green, according to sources. While Green was an important two-way wing for the Sixers, he tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee in May and now he has an expiring $10 million contract. If they end trading the pick, I’d imagine a raw, high-upside player like Wesley would have wide appeal. If the Sixers keep it, taking a swing could pay off since they don’t have a first again until 2024 after the Nets deferred this year’s pick to take Philly’s 2023 selection instead. That’s a bet that the Sixers will be worse.
As O’Connor mentioned, Green will miss a majority of the 2022-23 season as he is targeting a return sometime around the All-Star break. It will be interesting to see what kind of value Green can get the Sixers considering his age and the fact that he has been dealing with a lot of injuries recently, but he can still shoot the 3-ball well and he is a positive influence in any locker room.
Morey and the Sixers are in a spot where they want to win and help Joel Embiid and Harden get the job done. For the present, this is probably the best move for them in order to properly contend in the East rather than putting their hopes in a rookie.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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