At midnight CBS sports reported that the Philadelphia 76ers were interested in trading for the number one overall pick. Two scenarios were proposed: the Cavs receive both of Philly's first round picks (the number three and the number 10) OR they receive the number three pick and Thaddeus Young. The Sixers get the number one overall pick.
Why would the Sixers want to make this trade?
Here's the problem with that rumor.
If we assume that the Cavs do want Embiid, the Bucks want Parker, and the 76ers want Wiggins...why would Philly ever make that trade? It makes just as much sense to sit back, watch Embiid and Parker get drafted, snag your guy and proceed with the number 10 pick AND Thad Young.
If this rumor is true, and everyone wants who CBS says they want, there is no benefit to Philly making this trade. They get the same guy they likely get at the number three slot, except they give up a lot more to move into number one and take him there.
Which means something smells like shit in Denmark (or Philly).
One of those teams is throwing smokescreens. I'm not sure exactly who that is, but rest assured there will be many more diversions and distractions.
The most likely hurler of bullshit here is Philly. If the Sixers actually want Parker (that team doesn't have a lot of perimeter shooting and Parker is the best of these prospects with that skill-set), or even Joel Embiid (doubtful cause they already have Nerlens Noel, but ya never know), then they would need to leapfrog the Bucks or make their package more appealing to Cleveland.
They may also be trying to change the perception of Wiggins, making him a more appealing prospect to the teams directly below Philly. The Sixers might be interested in snagging one of the next tier of players (Randle, Exum, Vonleh) but they would need significant return value to make that trade palatable to a fanbase that just watched them tank last year in historic fashion.
From a Cleveland perspective, making this deal is iffy. Brad and I have discussed this possibility before. To make the deal palatable (for us) we would need the three, ten AND Thad Young. If Philly is that sold on Wiggins and is already offering a rotating package of Young or the ten, I find it hard to believe they wouldn't be willing to pair all three of their assets together.
If Philly offered the three, ten and Thad Young for the number one pick----would you make the deal?