As expected, the vultures are circling the Sixers’ veterans on expiring contracts as the NBA trade deadline nears.
The NBA’s Trade Deadline is just over one week away, with rumors from the around the league beginning to heat up. Veteran NBA insider Marc Stein detailed the latest trade winds, which featured some Sixers-centric news.
The first area of Sixers news is with Guerschon Yabusele, who has blossomed since his return to the NBA:
“The Sixers, I’m told, love Guerschon Yabusele.
Yet they might soon have a difficult decision to make with the bruising French forward and his $2.1 million minimum contract.
League sources say that Philadelphia has already received multiple trade offers from playoff-bound teams for Yabusele, who has been an effective addition to the Sixers’ frontcourt after his strong play in the Olympics for the silver-medal-winning hosts.”
Many NBA insiders speculate that teams are increasingly prioritizing low-salary talent, which perfectly describes Yabusele’s current situation. Matching his salary would be an easy task, making him a viable option for a wide range of teams and scenarios.
Yabusele has thrived with the Sixers, becoming a fan favorite thanks to his strong play on the court. However, the team’s financial constraints could make it difficult for them to offer a competitive deal when he hits unrestricted free agency.
The next area of Sixers news actually mentions Eric Gordon, who has had a polarizing tenure thus far:
“Word is there has likewise been trade interest registered in veteran guard Eric Gordon, who is shooting nearly 50% from 3-point range in 14 games in January.”
As mentioned above, Gordon has finally found his rhythm in January, which has been crucial for the Sixers. This strong stretch follows a rough start to the 2024-25 season, where he struggled, shooting just 36 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three.
Gordon’s contract situation differs from Yabusele’s, as he holds a player option for next season. He can choose to opt into it with the Sixers or with another team if he’s traded. At 36 years old, it would be logical for the Sixers to explore trade offers, especially if their postseason hopes continue to dwindle.
Lastly, Stein echoed the sentiment that the Sixers want to evaluate their performance in the coming weeks before finalizing any plans for the trade deadline:
“The belief is that the Sixers want to gauge results over the next week-plus before firming up their trade deadline approach. After back-to-back wins over Cleveland and Chicago, Philadelphia entered Monday’s play at 17-27 and just a game out of 10th place in the East behind the 19-27 Bulls.
Joel Embiid has still only appeared in 13 games this season for the 76ers, but a case can be made to resist trade pitches for Yabusele and Gordon if a second-half push for at least a Play-In Tournament spot is within reach.”
As of now, the Sixers are one game behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, which is the final play-in tournament position. They also hold a comfortable four-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets, who are directly below them. The Bulls appear to be signaling a potential teardown, though nothing is certain at this point. If the Bulls decide to sell at the deadline, it could significantly improve the Sixers’ chances of securing a play-in spot — especially if they choose to stand pat or even make moves to buy.
With the trade deadline nearing, the Sixers face decisions on Guerschon Yabusele and Eric Gordon. As the play-in tournament remains within reach and the Bulls possibly retooling, the Sixers must carefully weigh their options between standing pat, selling, or making moves to strengthen their roster for a late-season push.