76ers looking to trade No. 16 pick to help Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey

The Philadelphia 76ers have the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft at their disposal as they look to fortify the team around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They also have a lot of pressure to put it to the best use possible.

The Sixers have to fill the roster out with more talent as Embiid crosses into his 30s and Maxey gets his new contract. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Sixers are seen as more and more likely to trade their first-round pick in the hopes of landing a more surefire supporting piece.

Siegel writes the following: “There is a growing belief that the Philadelphia 76ers are going to be moving this draft pick in order to add more established talents to their roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, league sources said. The urgency to win right now is growing in Philadelphia.”

Previously, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that the Sixers “are seen league-wide as a candidate to trade their pick,” noting their need to either use the pick in a trade for a star or to clear even more salary-cap space.

Daryl Morey acknowledged the options the Sixers have between making a selection and using the pick in a trade. But he also said that getting an instant contributor in the draft is tough in the range where Philly is picking. Using the pick in a trade seems likely, though it remains to be seen if it will be for a role player or a star.

76ers rumored to trade No. 16 pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Morey has used a first-round pick to add win-now talent to the Sixers before, using the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to land De’Anthony Melton in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Back issues derailed Melton’s tenure with Philly but he was a solid contributor when healthy, namely as a spot-up three-point shooter and off-ball defender.

While Melton played two seasons with the Sixers and earned $16 million before hitting unrestricted free agency, Philly could have had a young talent like Nikola Jovic or Andrew Nembhard on a contract worth $12 million over four years. But making the pick and not landing a player that showed immediate impact would have been tough to swallow.

Although the Sixers’ scouting has been strong under Morey, the pressure to use that pick to land an immediate rotation player is immense. They don’t have time to wait for a rookie drafted so high to develop and perhaps don’t want to risk failing to find a prospect who’s ready from the get-go.

If the Sixers look for a third star, it only makes sense to offer the 16th pick, though it would restrict a trade being agreed to until after the pick is made. All-Stars like Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram have been floated as potential trade candidates, though it remains unclear how much their current teams actually want to trade them (and whether Philly believes either star is worth trading for).

Should the Sixers be interested in standing pat and making a selection, they should focus on finding a wing that provides strong defense and can serve a role as either a playmaker, shooter or both on offense. They could bolster their defense with Virginia’s Ryan Dunn or add an intriguing shooter/scorer in Colorado’s Tristan da Silva. Philly could also have the possibility to land an intriguing guard prospect like Duke’s Jared McCain or Providence’s Devin Carter but the priority is adding a good wing next to Embiid and Maxey.

As of now, the 76ers own the 16th and 41st overall picks for the 2024 NBA Draft, which will hold its two rounds on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27.