Ah, “Deadline Day” is upon us. As with every NBA trade deadline, the rumor mill is on fire. Superstars, role players, bench warmers, you name it and they are rumored to be on the move. The Trade Deadline has also brought us a number of monumental trades, that shook the league to its’ core. The 2011 edition of the Trade Deadline saw Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz traded to the then-New Jersey Nets. In return, the Jazz received guard Devin Harris, a pair of first-round picks, cash considerations, and one of the organization’s cornerstones in Derrick Favors. While that deal was huge, arguably the biggest trade in deadline history happened just two days prior, when Carmelo Anthony was moved to the New York Knicks in an incredible 12-player deal. The point I am getting at here, is that the Trade Deadline is the day for huge trades to go down. This year is no different, as players ranging from Blake Griffin to Al Horford are reportedly on the block.

With it being the day of the Trade Deadline, teams are bound to be active. Most teams are looking to improve on their playoff chances, by acquiring rental players or better overall talent. Some teams that are out of the playoffs are looking to shed salary. Then, you have teams like the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are currently in a fantastic position when it comes to the deadline. With the current financial situation (or lack thereof…), the Sixers have become known as a “dumping ground” for ridiculous contracts, such as Javale McGee last season. The teams’ current financial situation allows them to be in a similar position this year, although I believe they could target longer-term options also. With that said, let’s take a look at the top 5 targets for the Sixers, before we reach the 3:00 Deadline.

4.) Jeff Teague- Point Guard/Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have spent the last two seasons with fantastic regular-season squads, but have yet to step up in the playoffs. As a result, there have been a number of discussions centered around blowing the team up. If the Hawks go through with their discussions, one of the first to go will be Jeff Teague. The talented 27-year-old got off to a slow start in his career, not playing a whole lot during his first two seasons. However, he made the most of his chance, when given the opportunity in 2011. He saw his points per game average skyrocket from 5.2 PPG in 2010, up to 12.6 PPG in 2012. Since then, he’s averaged no less than 14 PPG. The one time All-Star would be an ideal fit for the Sixers, as he’d fill the void currently at point guard. Ish Smith has been playing amazingly since re-joining the team, but it’s not every day that you have the chance to acquire an all-star to run the point. One would imagine that a return would have to include Nerlens Noel, at the least.

(more…)

Tags: Blake Griffin, Blockbuster Trades, DeMarcus Cousins, NBA Trade Deadline, Philadelphia Sixers