Moving Up

With so much speculation around the Sixers moving up, I thought it might be prudent to see what it would take - from other teams to tango. Listening to WIP LATE NIGHT last night and hearing the calls Big Daddy took, a lot of fans had some great trades. Unfortunately, Al Horford and Mike Conley aren't coming together to play with Andre Igoudala in exchange for two low picks and Andre Miller.



Having said that:

5. Boston

Seems the Celtics need...to sell tickets. They're becoming a non-entity in Boston and New England with the Red Sox and Patriots having premeire players and winning championships. That's why you're hearing Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Garnett's names being floated. I really can't see either of those guys showing up to training camp on the first day in Waltham, MA. I also don't expect Danny Ainge and Billy King to make a trade to improve each other directly as they are in the same division. The C's big tradeable assets are the #5 pick and Al Jefferson. Jefferson is unknown to me, I don't know that he's a winning player on a winning team yet....the #5 pick is good for a 10 year starter.

Odds of 76ers getting this pick: 10/1

6. Milwaukee

The Bucks have some good assets to build around and can score a Jeff Green, Corey Brewer or Yi to really help their team in the short and long run. They would also hop on Mike Conley in a heartbeat. The bottom line is if they're going to trade, they'd have to get a player back who will immediately contribute and a good pick. I guess the Sixers would trade Andre Miller, but they might be able to get the player at 6 that they would at 8.

Odds of Trade: 7/1

7. Minnesota

Owner Glen Taylor seems to have gotten the hint; its ok to make $20 million a season in Minnesota as long as the team is good. Now that the team stinks, and its Minnesota and not Phoenix or LA or Miami, the $20 million comes "with strings". Thats why he's directly involved in getting KG out of Minnesota by Labor Day. With a Mega Star and a high draft pick, count on Minnesota doing SOMETHING, maybe not with the Sixers, but maybe through another team.

Odds of Trade: 3/1

8. Charlotte

In Charlotte, they care about one thing - Making $$$$! They have no veterans. They have no leadership. They have an owner, Robert Johnson, who is notoriously cheap. They're GM, Michael Jordan, stinks. They played at the league minimum last year - and would have gone lower if they could. If there's a way to get younger (read: cheaper), they'll do it.

Odds of Trade: 2/1

9. Chicago from New York

Ah Zeke...always helping others. Chicago will trade to get the right front court player. The Sixers don't have that player. Garnett might be that player. They'll trade young players to get some low post scoring, and they have the players to trade. I'd trade the #12 pick for Luol Deng or Kirk Heinrich (not happening).

Odds of Trade: 5/1



Bottom line - I think they can move up to 8, maybe 7. That gives them a lot more options than 12 does. It would take both picks and maybe a player.