The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference regardless of what happens with a possible Kevin Durant trade from the Brooklyn Nets. But if the Sixers were to get Durant, it would vault them to the top in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers have a significant talent: Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. That will put them in the conversation to come out of the East.
However, with Durant viewing Philadelphia as a desired landing spot, it makes things very interesting.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and The Stadium, the Sixers, along with other teams, have called the Nets about a Durant deal, but there has been no traction on any deal:
The Philadelphia 76ers expressed recent interest in Durant while the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets also inquired with the Nets in late June and early July to gauge the price tag, according to sources. The New Orleans Pelicans inquired with the Nets on June 30 as well but deemed All-Star Brandon Ingram as untouchable, sources said. Also in the past month, the Atlanta Hawks offered John Collins, De’Andre Hunter and a draft pick for Durant, according to sources.
None of those conversations gained much traction. Durant has four years and $198 million remaining on his Nets contract.
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The Sixers have the players to send to Brooklyn to acquire Durant, but the big holdup is draft compensation. Philadelphia cannot move a first-round pick until 2029 and that is not going to get a deal done with the Nets. They want to be able to acquire top talent as well as a lot of draft compensation and who can blame them? This is Kevin Durant, after all.
Either way, this looks like it will be tough to get done. Would Durant like to go to Philadelphia? It sure looks like it. Can the Sixers really get it done? In all likelihood, no.
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