Mock trade has Sixers sending Matisse Thybulle to Suns in a deal
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The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting at 12-12 following a road trip where they dropped all three games. The losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Memphis Grizzlies were acceptable, but a loss to the Houston Rockets with both Joel Embiid and James Harden on the floor is a tough one to accept.
It’s still only December and a team doesn’t win a title after just 24 games, but one has to begin thinking about the future and any possible moves that president Daryl Morey could pull the trigger on in order to get Philadelphia back in the right direction.
A mock trade put together by Bleacher Report has the Sixers sending Matisse Thybulle to the Phoenix Suns in a deal:
The fake trade proposal
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Jae Crowder
Phoenix Suns receive: Matisse Thybulle, Georges Niang and Jaden Springer
B/R on why the Sixers do this deal
The Sixers could be desperate enough for a two-way wing like Crowder to let go of rotation regulars like Matisse Thybulle and Georges Niang. The fact Philly can also sweeten the pot with Jaden Springer, a 2021 first-rounder, can also help Phoenix feel better about the value aspect of this deal.
Starting with the Sixers, Crowder would fit like a tailored suit. He’d fill the same complementary, defense-first role as P.J. Tucker, only Crowder is five years younger and less hesitant to launch on offense. Four spots of Philly’s closing playoff lineup are obvious, but Crowder could enter the discussion for that final one.
Analyzing the deal from a Sixers standpoint
As mentioned, Crowder would essentially be a younger Tucker at this point. However, he would be a bit more reliable on the offensive end. He takes the open looks he gets and considering he would be playing next to Harden who does a terrific job of setting up his teammates, he would be a great fit there while also being a tenacious defender on the other side of the floor.
Moving off Thybulle would hurt because he is already an elite defender. However, his offensive development has been too slow and that is something that has held him back a bit as the Sixers try and move forward. Moving Niang would be a tough decision as would Springer, but Philadelphia’s window to win a title is beginning to close. A guy like Crowder, who has been to the finals twice, would be a helpful addition to this group.
