Ranking the Sixers' top offseason targets fit from pipedream to probable

4) Zach LaVine

The Sixers being rumored to be interested in LaVine, even as a backup plan, is odd, though there may be a reason. When healthy, LaVine is a talented scorer and terrific shooter but he missed most of this season due to a foot injury. Injury and contract concerns have limited his trade value, with him possibly even being a negative trade asset.

If the Sixers were to strike out on their primary trade targets, they could seek out the Bulls to make a deal with Philly, possibly even offering to take him off their hands without having to give up much in return. If healthy, that would possibly be a good move by the Sixers and give them a third option that could help them, particularly during the regular season when Embiid inevitably misses time.

That would help them get a higher seed and hopefully an easier path to the Eastern Conference Finals after years of coming up short. Take this season for instance. Despite having the best record in the East for the first few weeks of the regular season, multiple injuries to Embiid later caused them to slip in the standings. They ultimately finished seventh in the East and were bounced from the playoffs. Having a third option, even one such as LaVine, would possibly prevent that from happening.