A Kawhi Leonard, 4-team mega-trade involving the Philadelphia 76ers
By Simon Smith
The blockbuster deal
Consisting of nine players over four teams, here’s how the deal breaks down:
Philadelphia 76ers
The jewel in the crown of the deal, Leonard is simply a transformational player who has the ability to raise the Sixers from being great to elite. With his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, forming a trio of Leonard, Embiid and Simmons would be simply terrifying for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
That being said, the amount of talent hitting the exit doors is significant. In Fultz, the Sixers are losing a 20-year-old whose potential is untapped at this point. While he is rather inconsistent at the offensive end, Robert Covington’s elite abilities at the defensive end are simply elite, meaning these will be tough shoes to fill.
Then there’s Dario Saric, whose progress during his second season in the league indicates he will become one of the more intriguing players in the league over the coming seasons. With that being said, that package (along with a future first round pick) is worth it for the chance to pair Leonard with this young foundation for next season and ultimately, for the long-term.
New starting lineup:
- G – Ben Simmons
- G – J.J. Redick
- F – Kawhi Leonard
- F – Nemanja Bjelica
- C – Joel Embiid
San Antonio Spurs
While it’s impossible to replace Leonard, this deal nonetheless provides with the team with a great deal of talent and depth. In Bradley Beal, the Spurs are receiving one of the elite perimeter scorers in the league, and in conjunction with LaMarcus Aldridge, will provide them with a fantastic inside-outside tandem.
With Myles Turner, the Spurs are receiving a 22-year-old center whose career somewhat stagnated last season, primarily due to the emergence of the duo acquired in the aforementioned Paul George deal. Despite his down season, Turner managed to have 13 games in which he posted at least 20 points, and a further 19 games in which he recorded at least three blocked shots.
Furthermore, backup point guard Cory Joseph returns for a second tour of duty, having spent his first four seasons in the league with the Spurs. With the loss of Tony Parker to free agency, having Joseph fortify the second unit represents a key addition.
New starting lineup:
- G – Dejounte Murray
- G – Bradley Beal
- F – Rudy Gay
- F – LaMarcus Aldridge
- C – Myles Turner
Washington Wizards
It’s been clear thus far from their offseason activity that the Wizards are in need of some change. In keeping in line with this, the deal provides the team with added flexibility at both ends of the floor.
With the addition of Covington, the Wizards should be able to improve upon their No. 16 ranking in defensive rating. Between Covington, John Wall, Otto Porter Jr. and the newly acquired Dwight Howard, the Wizards have all the hallmarks to significantly improve their defensive output next season.
With Fultz, the Wizards are getting the No. 1 overall selection from 2017, who they can play alongside Wall in the backcourt without the burden of being the primary ball-handler. Encouragingly, Fultz is reported to have made strides in his jump shot this summer, having put in countless hours with renowned shooting coach Drew Hanlen. Therefore, a more polished Fultz will certainly help compensate for the loss of Beal. The future first from Philly is the cherry on top.
New starting lineup:
- G – John Wall
- G – Markelle Fultz
- F – Robert Covington
- F – Otto Porter Jr.
- C – Dwight Howard
Indiana Pacers
Last season, the Pacers’ starting power forward Thaddeus Young attempted 181 triples while converting at a 32.0 percent clip. Dario Saric shot at a 39.3 percent clip on 399 attempts. With the prevalence of the stretch-4 rising around the league, this represents a significant upgrade. When you include Saric’s ball handling and passing skills, this represents an excellent addition for the Pacers, who have struggled to play Domantas Sabonis and Turner together in the frontcourt.
Ranking 26th in the league in 3-point attempts last season, the addition of veteran shooting guard Danny Green is a welcome move as well. A career 39.5 percent 3-point shooter, the 31-year-old averaged 4.6 attempts per game last season, and along with his championship experience, would be a terrific piece of the puzzle.
Finally, Sixers backup center Richaun Holmes rounds out the deal. With Joel Embiid and Amir Johnson ahead of him in the rotation, Holmes’ opportunities were limited throughout the course of last season. A high-energy player, Holmes would complete an outstanding bench rotation also featuring Green, Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott.
New starting lineup:
- Darren Collison
- Victor Oladipo
- Thaddeus Young/Bojan Bogdanovic
- Dario Saric/Thaddeus Young
- Domantas Sabonis
With each team having just competed in the postseason, the deal naturally represents some degree of risk.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
From the Sixers’ perspective, while the assets leaving clearly put a dent in the depth of the roster, the opportunity to land a player of Leonard’s stature simply cannot be passed up.