Chaos. That’s what I want. Total chaos. I don’t feel like I’ll get it this year, but I need it. At least last year’s deadline featured a hilarious JaVale McGee salary dump that was solid fun, but it was two minutes after the deadline when the reports of real craziness came: the KJ McDaniels and Michael Carter-Williams’ trades.

This year, there are only a few players of any real value on the Sixers (Noel, Okafor, Embiid, end list). Sure, there are also the KJ-types, like Jerami Grant and Robert Covington, low-cost high reward players who would net you a pick (or paired with a pick could bring in a decent player, maybe), but who really knows their value? The team’s highest-value plays are its picks. The Vertical put the Sixers’ own first rounder, the Lakers’ pick, and the Kings’ pick-swaps under the “hang up if they ask about” header. That leaves the mid-to-late round OKC and Miami picks, which might have some real value to a team looking to add some young players next year.

Who is Available?

Before last year’s deadline insanity, no one knew MCW was actually available, so it’s always a crapshoot. But here’s a little list of players who are reportedly available (or whom teams are interested in) which will expand and contract by Thursday:

  • Nick Young
  • Ricky Rubio
  • Jeff Teague
  • Dennis Schröder
  • Markieff Morris (do not touch)
  • Dwight Howard (six years running!)
  • Andrea Bargnani
  • David Lee
  • DeMarcus Cousins
  • Bojan Bogdanovic
  • Blake Griffin (?)
  • Trey Burke
  • Kevin Martin
  • Adreian Payne
  • Tobias Harris
  • Michael Carter-Williams (described as “undeniably gettable”)

As you can see, not a lot of names there the Sixers could pursue and afford, without screwing with “the process.” Harris, Schröder, and Payne are the type of guys you can land without giving up much, but they don’t fit the “established” player mold Jerry Colangelo seems to be eyeing. The Sixers seem poised once again to play team three in multi-squad trades to land a pick in exchange for a salary dump or just helping out, if that’s something they still want to do.

The Scenarios

What could Hinklangelo do? Anything. Here are some trades that the ESPN Trade Machine approved that they definitely will not do:

boban

dame

knicks

lal pick

nonsense 2

nonsense

I would do all of these, but I am also an idiot.

The Bottom Line

This was a lot of words and images to lay out this thesis: We don’t know what is going on. In past years, we knew Hinkie would position himself to be the third-wheel in trades where he could help a team get something done and walk away with a little present for being a pal. Colangelo’s presence might not change this strategy. This upcoming offseason was and is shaping up to be THE TIME when things will at least begin to come together what with draft picks, Dario Saric potentially coming over, and cap space for free agency. Even Colangelo has to understand that the Sixers might be right there in turning their assets into tangible talent. Improving moderately at the trade deadline for the sake of competitiveness would suck.

But then there’s the Okafor question.

Do I think the team will trade Jahlil Okafor after just a half season? No. Do I think the team should trade Jahlil Okafor after just a half season? No. Do I think the fans talk about this and consider it a lot more than the team does? Absolutely. Is it still a possibility? ………. I think so.

But the real bottom line, if we learned anything from last year, is this: Don’t close your laptop until at least 4:45. Shit still goes down after the buzzer, and I’m very glad my new coffee pot is supposed to arrive that morning.