Philadelphia 76ers: Pros and cons of trading for Victor Oladipo
The Philadelphia 76ers have gotten off to a great start to the season. In their first year under the Doc Rivers regime, the Sixers are currently 20-10 with sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. Though they’re 10 games above .500, the roster could use a little retooling before the trade deadline.
Most of the team’s success can be attributed to their superstar center. Joel Embiid has put the team on his back, having an MVP-caliber season. The seven-foot behemoth is averaging 30.5 points, 11 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game. He’s second in the league in scoring behind Bradley Beal (32.8) while having the most efficient season of his career as well with .547/.400/.853 shooting splits.
Yes, the additions of Danny Green and Seth Curry in the offseason have proven fruitful, but the 76ers are still a mediocre 3-point shooting team. Philly ranks 28th in the league in both 3-pointers attempted (28.5) and made (10.3) per game, and their 36.1 percent conversion rate is good for 17th in the league.
Four of the five starters are shooting north of 38 percent from downtown, with Ben Simmons being the lone exception. On the other hand, the bench unit ranks 30th in the league, shooting 31.4 percent from deep.
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Should the Philadelphia 76ers trade for Victor Oladipo?
The 20-10 record is nice, especially when most of the losses came when Covid-19 ripped through the roster and left them with barely enough eligible players to take the floor. Still, while they’ve been great on the defensive end, if Philly wants to be serious title contenders, they’re going to need to bolster the offense.
Before the Sixers Friday night showdown with the Chicago Bulls, Adrian Wojnarowski appeared on ESPN’s NBA Countdown to discuss the 76ers’ trade deadline targets. He alleges that Daryl Morey has been actively seeking a trade in two areas of need. A stretch big and adding a two-way player. You can check out the full breakdown in the clip below.
Victor Oladipo may be the best two-way player in the trade market. The former steals champion, and two-time All-Star is tremendous and unwavering on defense and a remarkable scorer. His ability to put the ball in the hoop and defend at an elite level could make him the perfect target for Morey.
It may prove to be a difficult task with Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta’s reluctance to do business with Morey in the recent past. Still, with Oladipo’s contract set to expire at the end of the season and the Rockets in the early stages of a rebuild, he may be willing to listen this time around.
It all sounds good in theory, but will it work? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of the Philadelphia 76ers trading for Victor Oladipo and if the risk is worth the reward.