The Philadelphia 76ers are working to get back on track after a tough 2019-20 season on the floor. They have two bright stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to lead the way, but they need to fix the supporting cast around them.
The main options are to try and move either Al Horford or Tobias Harris who have the highest salaries on the team, but due to production concerns, it will be tough to move either of them. Philadelphia would have to attach quite a few assets to either guy to move them.
So, why not Josh Richardson? He had a solid first season with the Sixers and he does a few different things on the floor that affect winning, but he does not entirely fit on this roster. He also has a player option for the 2021-22 season so his contract is a little easier to move.
Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel examined a possible Richardson return trade to the Miami Heat recently and he came up with this one:
First, it would come down to what the 76ers are seeking, with the Heat lacking in draft capital. Would Kendrick Nunn be enough as the centerpiece for a trade? Then there is Josh’s contract, which has an $11.6 million player option for 2021-22. Even if he opts out, there would be a cap hold of about $16 million. So, as with so much of the speculation with the Heat’s future, it comes down to whether 2021 free agency (Read: Giannis Antetokounmpo) is an unbending priority.
The Heat would have to throw in more as Kendrick Nunn is only set to make about $1.6 million in the 2020-21 season compared to $10.8 million for Richardson, but Nunn could be what the team needs. He shot 39.1% from deep in the NBA Finals and he shot 35% from deep during the regular season. On top of that, he is an aggressive player who can put the ball on the floor and create for himself, like Richardson.
Essentially, this type of trade would come down to cap flexibility and whether the Sixers want to get out of Richardson’s contract. His deal is the one that would be the easiest to get out of himself, Harris, and Horford. [lawrence-related id=38436,38433]