PHILADELPHIA — It’s no secret Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is playing at an incredibly high level. He’s averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 45.9% from the floor and 38.6% from deep.
That production has made him Philadelphia’s second-best player next to MVP Joel Embiid and it could influence what President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey looks for at the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
In the past, Morey has swung for the fences and looked for the star player to pair with Embiid. However, Maxey’s ascension could change what Morey decides to do.
“I mean him playing pretty clearly like the second-best player to an MVP level guy does change how you look at things and does make you say, it’s much easier to find guys who can help in that context because finding like the second-best player on a title team, generally, you can’t do,” Morey explained. “You have to draft him like we did or it’s such a pile of assets like maybe I’ve done in my past where we just traded everything.”
With Maxey’s growth, the Sixers can look at adding a role player rather than swinging for the fences and going for the big name on the market. Morey mentioned Philadelphia could use depth at the guard and the big man spots. Maybe that’s the route he goes with Philadelphia’s trade plans.
“So it does open up a whole bunch of avenues to upgrade the team that wouldn’t have been there if Tyrese wasn’t making this leap that we hope he can make,” Morey concluded.
The weeks leading up to the trade deadline will certainly be interesting for Morey as the Sixers look to finally make a deep run in the playoffs on their title chase.
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