Philadelphia 76ers: 8 ways to make the 2019 NBA Finals

4. Big trade deadline pickup

The 76ers were able to take their team to another level at the trade deadline last year with the signing of Masrco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova.

There will be late February opportunities again this year, which is why the 76ers desperately need to hire a savvy and experienced general manager.

The 76ers were not able to work out a trade with the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, but the team may get another shot at him when they need him most.

Kawhi was traded to the Toronto Raptors, but made it clear to anyone who would listen that he wants to play in Los Angeles, near his family and hometown.

If the Raptors come to the conclusion that they are not going to be able to sign Leonard to a long-term contract, they may be willing to part with him at the trade deadline for draft picks. The 76ers have a boatload of draft picks.

This, of course, would be predetermined by a number of factors, most importantly, where the Raptors and Sixers are in the standings.

But if the Raptors are faced with losing Kawhi Leonard at the end of the season, after trading DeMar DeRozan to get him, would they risk the shame of languishing on the wrong side of the playoff line?

The Kawhi Leonard possibility, although intriguing, is admittedly more pie-in-the-sky than possible, but the potential for a late February pick-up is not. There are a number of big names with expiring contracts whose teams may want to move if they can’t resign them.

There are also late season tank dumps like Belinelli and Ilyasova who can make a big difference, as we witnessed last season.

Did I mention the 76ers need a general manager?