February 04, 2019
The NBA Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching, with all trades needing to be finalized before February 7 at 3 p.m. And with the Sixers looking to contend for the Eastern Conference title this season, there's a chance first-year general manager Elton Brand becomes a buyer before the trade clock expires on Thursday.
All winter, we've been keeping track of the latest free agency news and trade rumors surrounding the Phillies this offseason, and we decided it's a good time to start doing the same for the Sixers with the deadline so close.
Our own Kyle Neubeck has already written extensively on the trade deadline, and you can read some of his work here:
• Will Wilson Chandler's injury impact Sixers' approach to NBA trade deadline?
• What should the Sixers do with Markelle Fultz at the NBA trade deadline?
• The Sixers could benefit from Knicks trade of Kristaps Porzingis
• Sixers can make NBA's best trade offer for Anthony Davis, but they probably shouldn't
• How does Anthony Davis trade request impact the Sixers?
• Would the Sixers explore a trade for Grizzlies guard Mike Conley?
And that's just in the last week or so. Kyle also answered a ton of trade-specific questions in his Sixers chat back on Friday, which is definitely worth checking out.
For today, we'll take a look at a budding rumor that the Sixers are interested in a role player who may find his way to the buyout market.
Wesley Matthews, an expiring contract throw in with the Mavericks blockbuster trade netting Kristaps Porzingis from the Knicks, would be a good fit for the Sixers and Neubeck was optimistic he'd be available as a free agent after the Knicks buy him out.
Apparently, New York is trying to leverage his buyout appeal into finding a trade suitor.
The Knicks are exploring the trade market for Wes Matthews before Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say, but there are also several antsy suitors hoping Matthews makes it to the buyout market. Among them: Houston, Oklahoma City, Toronto, Philadelphia and, yes, Golden State
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 4, 2019
The Sixers probably don't want to give up an asset to rent the guard, who scored just five points in 28 minutes in his New York debut. He is averaging around 13 points per game and hitting threes at a 37.1 percent clip in 2018-19.
Philly needs to bolster its bench. Whether they'd be willing to part with a piece to land Matthews is yet to be seen.
Follow along to get the latest on this, and every other NBA trade rumor that arises in our live chat/open thread below:
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