Sixers

Reports: Sixers Move Justin Anderson and TLC, Add Mike Muscala in Three-Team Trade

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jul 19th, 2018 · 5:18 PM EDT

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Looks like the Sixers are turning the Carmelo Anthony situation into a three-team transaction that addresses the Nemanja Bjelica abnegation and moves some fringe players off the roster.

The reports:

Oklahoma City has agreed to trade Carmelo Anthony and a protected 2022 first-round pick to Atlanta for point guard Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala, league sources tell ESPN. Anthony will be waived, and he will join team of his choice. Rockets are frontrunner.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 19, 2018

To recap three-team trade between Hawks, Thunder and 76ers: Carmelo Anthony and Justin Anderson to Hawks. Anthony bought out. Mike Muscala to 76ers. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot to Thunder.

— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) July 19, 2018

Got all of that?

Atlanta takes Melo and waives him. Muscala gets moved to Philly and TLC and Justin Anderson are shipped out.

I think this probably makes sense for each team involved. Oklahoma City gets a monstrous salary and tax savings while moving on from a guy who I don’t think was a great fit for that team. The Hawks eat Melo’s salary and move Schroder to make room for Trae Young, and the Sixers trim TLC and Anderson from the roster while bringing in Muscala to play some backup 4/5.

Muscala is 27 years old, a career 38% three point shooter who I think can give you some stretch four minutes off the bench next season. He’s played more center than power forward recently, backing up Dewayne Dedmon for the majority of last season, but he’s a capable second option to spell Dario Saric and allow you to still spread the floor a bit. Muscala played 53 games last year with 7 starts, averaging 8 and 4 in 20 minutes per game.

Here are the career numbers for the 2013 second round draft pick out of Bucknell:

As for TLC, he had his chances last year and didn’t do much to impress, did he? Justin Anderson played some quality defense in the Miami series but dealt with a shin injury that kept him in and out of the lineup. With Wilson Chandler and Zhaire Smith on the roster, the Sixers probably felt satisfied with the backup wing spots to the point where they were able to cut down the roster.

Edit:

Multiple league sources said the three-team trade is not expected to be completed in the coming days. One of the sources said that’s because the #Sixers are working on another move.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 19, 2018