Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking 5 potential offseason trades

Philadelphia 76ers trade No. 1

Lauri Markkanen took a step forward in year two but took a few steps back in year three. The seven-foot big man from Finland could not thrive under the dysfunctional leadership of Jim Boylen, averaging career lows across the board.

He says he wants to be in Chicago for a long time, but it’s unclear if the Bulls front office shares the same sentiment. At 23 years old and with only three years of NBA experience, it’s too early to give up on Markkanen.

A versatile scorer and excellent shooter, Markkanen is a career 35.6 percent shooter from 3-point land on 6.2 attempts per game. He is especially hot from the corners, shooting 42.2 percent on corner threes last season and 37.2 for his career, something he should see a lot of as defenses double team Embiid in the post.

Shot selection has been a constant issue for Markkanen, shooting 43 percent from the field for his career. Still, under the tutelage of Rivers and defensives putting so much focus on Embiid and Simmons, that problem should be easily fixed.

Originally drafted 12th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2007 draft, Thaddeus Young spent the first seven seasons of his career in the city of brotherly love.

He’s not the player that averaged 17.9 points, 6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in his last season donning a 76ers jersey. Still, Young can be a good bench piece for the 76ers.

He’s one of those players that isn’t great at anything but good at almost everything.  He’s never been a great shooter, but he’s improved his shot from outside since his Philly days.

These days Young is a capable shooter and willing to let it fly from deep if the defense leaves him open, shooting 34.9 percent over the last four seasons. He’s still not shooting a high volume with just 2.2 attempts per game over that span. Yet it will be a welcome addition to a 76ers team that sorely lacked 3-point shooting and failed to maximize the space on the floor last season.

Young is also a solid defender that should see an uptick in all defensive metrics while sharing the court with players like Simmons, Embiid, Richardson, and Thybulle.

Horford’s contract is a lot to ask a team to take on but with the Bulls constantly in the middle of a rebuild and currently trying to establish a new culture, adding a player like Horford should be given serious consideration.

Yes, Horford has taken a step back as he is past his prime, but he is still a quality player who can contribute to a franchise in many ways, especially off the court. He just didn’t fit well alongside Joel Embiid and Brett Brown never really figured things out with this roster.

Horford can stretch the floor, protect the paint, score in the post, and initiate the offense from the top of the key. Just look at some of his film from his final season with Boston; Horford can still play, just not with Brett Brown and the 76ers.

He can also serve as a mentor or big brother to Wendell Carter Jr., who emerged as a franchise cornerstone and the rest of the roster. A 13-year veteran, Horford can help this young Bulls team eradicate their bad habits and develop good ones.

The Bulls were 1-2 last year in games that went to overtime and lost 14 games by two possessions or less. The five-time All-Star can use his experience to help these young kids learn to play under pressure in the big moments and close out games.

As the roster is currently constructed, Horford has played more playoff games (124) than the entire Bulls roster combined (104). Horford and two second-round picks should get the deal done, but it all depends on where the Chicago front office stands on Markkanen’s availability.