New trade proposal sends Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Timberwolves

This hypothetical trade sees a multi-level scorer join the Los Angeles Lakers while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaves.

After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, an outcome not expected for the defending champs, questions about the roster’s strengths became prevalent.

The Lakers are built around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The two superstars have the highest usage rates on the team while everyone else on the court plays a specific role.

For players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, that’s knocking down 3-pointers on offense as the shooting guard. However, Caldwell-Pope had an abysmal shooting performance for his standards against the Phoenix Suns, and his long-term future with the franchise had some doubts.

Caldwell-Pope is under contract until 2023, but his yearly salary is palatable in a potential trade to acquire a more diverse scorer on offense.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed a hypothetical trade scenario that sends Caldwell-Pope and the Lakers’ No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In return, the Lakers would receive shooting guard Malik Beasley.

Here’s Swartz’s reasoning:

“An average of 6.2 points on 37.9 percent shooting (and 21.1 percent from three) against the Phoenix Suns was brutal, as Caldwell-Pope looked unwilling to shoot even before suffering a knee injury. With the Lakers’ title window likely only open a few more years, they need an upgrade at shooting guard ASAP.

Beasley, 24, put up 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 steals on 39.9 percent shooting from three this season, and would immediately become the third-best player on the Lakers. The Wolves may be willing to deal him with the emergence of rookie shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who looks like a perennial All-Star in the making.

Beasley gives the Lakers the scoring punch they need when LeBron James and Anthony Davis need a breather, and he’s a terrific floor-spacer and off-ball threat (41.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes).”

The trade works contract-wise because Beasley makes just north of $14 million next season. Minnesota inked him to a four-year, $60 million deal during the last offseason because of the promise he showed after arriving via trade from the Denver Nuggets.

Beasley played in 37 games this season and started in 36. The 24-year-old guard averaged 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He shot 44 percent overall on 16.2 attempts and 39.9 percent from deep on 8.7 attempts.

It’s unclear how Caldwell-Pope is valued by Minnesota, but the draft pick is a nice acquisition in what looks like a deep draft with plenty of players available that can contribute right away given the system.

However, Minnesota also needs to start making a push for the playoffs with Karl-Anthony Towns, as the franchise hasn’t had much success since it last qualified for the playoffs in the 2017-18 season. Beasley is the type of player Minnesota would love to keep as Anthony Edwards continues to develop.

But for the Lakers, as Swartz mentioned, Beasley would become the third scoring option for Los Angeles. Dennis Schroder reportedly wants a contract worth $100-120 million in free agency, so Beasley allows L.A. to comfortably let Schroder walk.

If this is the only deal on the table for L.A., it would definitely address a need on the roster.

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Looking at how a potential Ben Simmons to Timberwolves trade works

We take a look at a potential Ben Simmons to the Minnesota Timberwolves deal for the Philadelphia 76ers.

As the Philadelphia 76ers move through the early part of the offseason after making a second-round exit for the third time in four seasons, the player most named in trade talks has been 24-year-old Ben Simmons, a three-time All-Star.

The Sixers have only two ways to improve this offseason: the draft and through trades. They do not have much money to play with in terms of free agency, so president Daryl Morey will have to get creative.

Simmons is his biggest asset at the moment and a trade suggestion by ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks suggested Simmons should go to the Minnesota Timberwolves for D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley.

This notion is being pushed a bit more by SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson who is reporting the Timberwolves badly want to trade for Simmons.

Both Russell and Beasley are legitimate 3-point shooters with Russell shooting it at 38.7% on 7.4 attempts and Beasley at 39.9% on 8.7 attempts so they are both volume shooters. Their fit around Embiid on the offensive end of the floor would be like a glove, and Russell is proven shot-creator from the perimeter.

The big issue is neither is a great defender and that would hurt Philadelphia’s play on that end of the floor.

A big example would be looking at the Utah Jazz who have an elite defender in Rudy Gobert. They surrounded him with guys who are not exactly great defenders at this stage in their respective careers.

That would put a lot of pressure on Joel Embiid on that end of the floor, but if Philadelphia can keep Matisse Thybulle out of the deal, that would be a big help on that end .

At the end of the day, the Sixers are not just going to trade Simmons just to trade him. Philadelphia will need to get a fair package in return for one of the league’s bright stars.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Kendrick Perkins suggests Sixers trade Ben Simmons to Timberwolves

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins suggests that the Philadelphia 76ers send Ben Simmons to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to move on after coming up short again in the 2021 playoffs. They fell at home in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks when Ben Simmons came up very small — again.

Simmons took four shots in a deciding game at home, and he did not take any shots in the fourth quarter including passing up a wide-open dunk. It was the type of performance that left a lot of people thinking the Sixers should now move on from Simmons and focus on building around Joel Embiid.

That means a lot of trade proposals will be offered over the next few months. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins suggested the Sixers send Simmons to the Minnesota Timberwolves:

If I’m the Philadelphia 76ers, you know what’s the right place for Ben Simmons? I’m going to trade him for D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, and I’m sending him to Minnesota where he could be around a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns that loves to stretch the floor and float around the 3-point line. Now you able to move DLo out of there and Malik Beasley, because Anthony Edwards now is flourishing and they could get up out of his way. Now Ben Simmons is rolling to the basket and you’re getting the best out of him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ympjk9KIndM

This is one of those trades that could work out well for both teams. Simmons can fit next to Towns and he can be something of a point-forward for Minnesota. Both Russell and Beasley are solid 3-point shooters and they would be better fits next to a guy like Embiid who can have even more space with Simmons out of the picture.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Malik Beasley credits the G League in helping prepare for the NBA

Beasley split his rookie season between the Nuggets in the NBA and the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League.

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As a rookie, Malik Beasley split the 2016-17 season between the NBA and the G League with playing time at a premium with the Denver Nuggets at the time.

In addition, Beasley was also recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right leg. Beasley made 22 appearances with the Nuggets that season, averaging 3.8 points per game. However, he averaged 18.9 points in 16 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The experience that year helped Beasley prepare for playing in the NBA. He recently spoke about his time in the G League in a Q&A on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

“I think my rookie year allowed me to fully recover from my injury and it allowed me to get used to the game speed of professional athletes,” Beasley said. “It allowed me to get reps in and improve on my injury, allow me to get better and get ready for the NBA.”

Players have often credited the G League with preparing them for the next level. Some have used that opportunity to lock down a full-time role in the NBA as the G League continues to improve its talent pool of available players.

Of course, Beasley was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the NBA trade deadline and played perhaps the best basketball of his career prior to the season suspension. In 14 games with the Timberwolves, Beasley is averaging 20.7 points and five rebounds per game.

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An early preview of the Wolves 2020-21 offseason

The 2019-20 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves was all about re-organization. New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas’ primary goal this season was revamping the roster and finding an identity. The asset play by Rosas, particularly …

The 2019-20 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves was all about re-organization. New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas’ primary goal this season was revamping the roster and finding an identity. The asset play by Rosas, particularly his mid-season trades, helped create a foundation that made this year a success, despite their 19-45 record.

Rosas came into a rough situation in Minnesota where they were running low on trade assets and cap flexibility. Previous management essentially lost Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Kris Dunn for nothing after Jimmy Butler forced his way out. Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng were signed to expensive deals that, alongside the maximum extension of Karl-Anthony Towns, made adding upgrades via free agency difficult.

Through many transactions, Rosas set the foundational core and culture for the future. Towns and Josh Okogie remain the only two players on the roster from the Tom Thibodeau era. The additions of All-Star D’Angelo Russell and several other young prospects such as Jarrett Culver and Malik Beasley highlight the Wolves’ offensive-minded core going forward.

CURRENT 2020-21 PAYROLL

Wolves current 2020-21 payroll.
Wolves current 2020-21 payroll. The salary cap, luxury tax, and rookie-scale amount are all subject to change if the $115 million salary cap projection decreases.

The Wolves are entering the 2020-21 offseason with $96.1 million dedicated to 11 players, three of which are non-guaranteed. That figure assumes all three of Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaylen Nowell, and Naz Reid remain on the roster, and that James Johnson opts into his $16 million player option. They currently sit $42.7 million below the $139 million projected luxury tax, although the figure is subject to change if the salary cap decreases.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Along with Beasley, the Wolves also acquired forward Juancho Hernangomez in the four-team trade they participated in. Both players are starting and have improved tremendously since joining the Wolves. The Wolves were 23rd in offensive rating prior to acquiring Russell, Beasley, and Hernangomez, and ever since have been 12th. With half a season together, that rank could be even higher in 2020-21. Both Beasley and Hernangomez are ideal fits next to Towns and Russell.

Both restricted free agents will receive a lot of interest league-wide. Re-signing them should be Minnesota’s top priority this summer. Beasley declined a three-year $30 million extension offer from the Nuggets, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN. It’s a strong offer considering he was only getting 18 minutes per game with the Nuggets, so declining it felt risky since there were no assurances he’d be traded to a team that would play him more. In Minnesota, he’s averaged 33 minutes, 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 threes per game through 14 contest. He should garner offer sheets exceeding $10 million annually like the extension Denver offered him.

Hernangomez, who had fallen out of Denver’s rotation in favor of Michael Porter Jr., was averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.1 threes in 29.4 minutes per game with the Wolves. His size and shooting ability gives him the versatility to play both forward positions and occasionally center. His skill and likely affordability should also attract many offer sheets. With most teams having the nontaxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE) available, it could take a cap space team offering just north of that to set the market for Hernangomez.

TWO-WAY PLAYERS

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Kelan Martin and Jordan McLaughlin remain on two-way contracts and both had been getting consistent playing time prior to the season’s suspension. If the Wolves did plan on converting them to regular contracts, they were probably holding off to minimize their luxury tax payment. If the regular season is salvaged, there could be enough time to convert them. Otherwise, the Wolves can look to re-sign them in free agency.

MID-LEVEL EXCEPTION

While there is a path for the Timberwolves to become a cap space team, they are most likely looking at operating over the cap. This would give them access to the NT-MLE. It’s hard to speculate where exactly the Wolves should invest that exception since they’re loaded with wings and big men. Their biggest hole right now is point guard, which was a problem all year even after they acquired Russell. They can get a great backup point guard with the NT-MLE. Playmakers they can pursue include Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson, and DJ Augustin.

DRAFT

If the rest of the season is canceled, the Wolves would finish with the third-worst record in the league. They’d be guaranteed a top 7 pick in this year’s draft. They also have the Nets lottery-protected first-round pick, which would be 16th overall if there’s no more GAMES. The two 2020 first-round picks would add about $11.5 million in salary once presumably signed, although that figure could be slightly less if the salary cap decreases.

NBA Player Prop Bet Payday: Pat Bev will lock up Jamal Murray

Highlighting Friday’s best NBA player props with odds, analysis and picks.

Friday’s 10-game NBA menu has a lot of tasty betting options. Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference teams highlight the slate with the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder playing at the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here are some savory NBA player props to devour from Friday’s action:

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 3:20 p.m. ET.

Pat Bev will lock up Jamal Murray

(Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing – USA TODAY Sports)

The Denver Nuggets head to La La Land to play the Los Angeles Clippers — who are favored -5.5 — in their second meeting of the season. One of the key matchups in Nuggets-Clippers is L.A’s Pat Beverley vs. Denver’s Jamal Murray, and Pat Bev owns Murray in their head-to-heads: 

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Murray has failed to score 20 points in each of his last two games and has scored over 20 points just once in his 11 career games against the Clippers. Also, in Beverley’s last five games, the opposing starting point guard hasn’t scored more than 18 points and is averaging just 12 points per game in those contests.  

BET JAMAL MURRAY UNDER 20.5 POINTS (-112).


Place a legal sports bet on these NBA prop bets or other games at BetMGM.


Ball will fill up the box score on Cavs

(Photo credit: Ken Blaze – USA TODAY Sports)

The New Orleans Pelicans are in the midst of a playoff hunt as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’s season is all but over.

This bet is more about the terrible Cavaliers defense than it is PG Lonzo Ball himself. Don’t get me wrong, Ball is playing pretty good basketball lately. He’s tallied more than 25 points, rebounds and assists in four of his past six games. Also, Ball is having his best shooting month of the season, averaging 44% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point land. However, the Cavaliers are giving up the most fantasy points to point guards this season. Plus, over their past five games, opposing starting point guards are averaging 29.6 points, rebounds and assists.

Bet Lonzo Ball over 25.5 points, rebounds and assists (-139).

Betting Beasley in Orlando 

(Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are getting 7.5 points at the Orlando Magic. Watch out for SG Malik Beasley in this game because he’s been ON FIRE since joining the Timberwolves Feb.19. Beasley is averaging 21.7 points per game on 45.5% FG shooting and 41.8% on 3-pointers. He’s also shooting a whopping 9.6 3’s per game since being traded to Minnesota, where he’s now a starter. So even if Beasley is having an off night he still might eclipse his projected points total just based on shooting volume. One additional point: the Magic’s starting shooting guard — Evan Fournier — has the worst defensive rating in their starting lineup.

Bet Malik Beasley over 17.5 points (-106).

Want some action on these NBA prop bets? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis and picks.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (17-40) visit the Amway Center Friday to play the Orlando Magic (26-32) at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Timberwolves-Magic odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.


Timberwolves at Magic: Key injuries

Timberwolves

  • SG Allen Crabbe (personal) out
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) out
  • SG Evan Turner (acquired) out

Magic

  • PF Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
  • SF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

Timberwolves at Magic: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Magic 119, Timberwolves 116

Moneyline (ML)

The Timberwolves +260 ended a five-game losing streak by pulling off a surprising road upset to an 11.5-point favored Miami Heat 129-126 Wednesday. Newcomers G Malik Beasley and G D’Angelo Russell combined for 48 points in the win. Beasley has 21+ points in five of the seven games he’s played for Minnesota since joining the team in a trade deadline deal, and Russell has scored 22+ in four of his five games since joining the Timberwolves.

The Magic -334 have played well lately, winning four of their last five games, including a 130-120 win at the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. Orlando is an absolute NO-GO for a moneyline wager as its value is awful, but you could certainly take a flyer on Minnesota because +260 is a juicy number against a sub .500 Magic team. Officially though, I’ll PASS.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Both are better ATS road teams than at home. The TIMBERWOLVES +7.5 (-110) are 14-14-1 ATS on the road, while the Magic -7.5 (-110) are 10-18-1 ATS at home. Minnesota is 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings at Orlando and is 5-16 ATS in the last 21 meetings, however, the two teams haven’t played yet this season. The Timberwolves have covered two of their past three games and, with both new guards healthy, they’ll keep this game close. The final differentiator in my handicap is their non-conference ATS records. Minnesota is 10-11-1 ATS against teams in the East and Orlando is an NBA-worst 7-13-2 ATS against Western Conference opponents. Bet TIMBERWOLVES +7.5 (-110).

Over/Under (O/U)

Minnesota consistently goes Over projected totals (33-24 O/U record) and Orlando tends to go Under (26-29-3 O/U). But their combined O/U record in non-conference games is 28-15-1, and the Timberwolves have the highest percentage of Overs in the league when playing Eastern Conference foes. Also, as an away underdog the Timberwolves have a 15-9 O/U record, clearing the projected total by an average of 8.1 points per game. Take the OVER 233.5 (-110).

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Analyzing every deal from 2020 NBA trade deadline with Ben Golliver

Alex Kennedy and Ben Golliver break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners/losers, possible buyouts and more.

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On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!

1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.

5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.

7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.

13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?

16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?

20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.

25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.

32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.

37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.

39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.

Trade deadline preview: 76ers’ need for wings, three-point shooting

HoopsHype examines the Philadelphia 76ers’ biggest needs as we approach the trade deadline, as well as specific players they could target.

The Philadelphia 76ers may be considered one of this season’s bigger disappointments relative to expectations, but, to their credit, they still boast a 25-16 record and have the league’s No. 12 net rating at +3.1.

That could indicate they may not need wholesale changes this season but smaller upgrades to their rotation. At the same time, questions remain about the team’s overall awkward fit, particularly between Ben SimmonsJoel Embiid and Al Horford, as well as whether or not they can legitimately contend with the lack of shooting they’re getting from their top players.

ROSTER NEEDS

First and foremost, the Sixers need to add more shooting to their rotation. It’s clear Philadelphia knows that too, as most of the trade rumors coming out of there are regarding the team looking around the Association at floor-spacing wings.

On the season, Philadelphia attempts the sixth-fewest three-pointers in the NBA and knocks them down at a mediocre clip of 35.5 percent, the No. 17 mark league-wide. The weird thing is, at home, the Sixers knock down triples at an elite 37.6 percent rate, which would rank second in the Association if that was their actual success rate on the year, but on the road, that number plummets to 33.5 percent, which would be fifth-worst in the NBA.

That could have something to do with their roster being made up of streaky shooters who get hot when they have the home crowd on their side, and get icy cold when facing adverse conditions.

An upgrade at backup point guard could also help out Philadelphia, as the Trey Burke/Raul Neto combo is pretty inconsistent; landing another improved playmaker might allow Simmons to play off the ball a bit more, too, where he’ll be able to excel as a screen-setter and cutter, two areas he’s added to his game recently.

POTENTIAL TRADE CANDIDATES

One thing the 76ers do have going for them on the trade market is the fact they have pretty decent assets – the easily movable kind – on their roster, including Burke, Neto, Furkan KorkmazJames Ennis and Kyle O’Quinn, who are all cheap, relatively productive role players. For salary-matching purposes in a potential larger trade, those kinds of contracts come in handy.

As far as Philadelphia players more focal to theoretical trades, if the Sixers do try and swing a huge move and don’t want to deal anyone in their starting 5, opposing teams will undoubtedly be most interested in rookie 3-and-D specialist Matisse Thybulle, who is shooting 42.1 percent from three this year and averaging 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes.

Second-year guard Zhaire Smith could also garner some interest, but his development appears to have been severely stunted by missing most of his rookie year with injury, and he doesn’t look anywhere near as promising as he did when he was just a prospect. Smith has yet to see a minute of NBA action in 2019-20.

POTENTIAL TRADE TARGETS

There have been a few players connected with Philadelphia on the trade market recently. Among them, former Sixers fan favorite Robert CovingtonMalik BeasleyE’Twaun Moore and Glenn Robinson III, as well as two Detroit Pistons guards, Luke Kennard and Langston Galloway.

There’s clearly a pattern here, as all of those players are above-average to plus-shooters, and would help the 76ers become more a threat from beyond the arc.

There’s also been scuttle about Marcus Morris, who is averaging a career-high 19.1 points this season and shooting nearly 47 percent from three for the rebuilding New York Knicks, being a trade target of Philadelphia’s, though he would be by far the most expensive of the bunch, and would cost the Sixers at least Thybulle, if not some draft capital, too.

Other guys who could be interesting targets for Philadelphia and might actually be moved ahead of this year’s trade deadline include Bogdan BogdanovicJeff Teague and DJ Augustin, one sharpshooting 2-guard and two reliable backup point guards who can knock down threes.

TRADE RESTRICTIONS

As of Jan. 15, every player on the 76ers’ roster is eligible to be traded.

The only restriction they have as far as trades go is they can’t deal Ennis without his permission, as his contract has a Bird Rights-related no-trade clause on it.

DRAFT ASSETS

Draft picks are considered the most premium assets teams can send out, or acquire, in trades.

Odds are, at least for 2020, Philadelphia won’t have much to offer teams draft asset-wise, as their first-round pick is going to the Brooklyn Nets unless the Sixers shockingly miss the playoffs, while the first-rounder the Oklahoma City Thunder owe Philadelphia might not transfer since it’s 1-20 protected. Even if it does transfer this summer, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding that pick right now, which could turn teams off from trying to acquire it.

They do have multiple second-round picks lined up for the 2020 draft and beyond, though, and can still offer teams future first-round picks, of which they own all of them.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.