The NBA trade deadline was full of surprises as the Philadelphia 76ers made two trades with top Eastern Conference contenders. According to sources, the 76ers sent Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks and Jaden Springer to the Boston Celtics in exchange for second-round picks.
For Beverley, this trade means a reunion with his former coach, Doc Rivers, with whom he spent several seasons as part of the LA Clippers. The Bucks, who have been in search of perimeter defensive help, have acquired a player who will strengthen their struggling defensive unit. Currently ranked 18th in defensive rating, the addition of Beverley will provide a much-needed boost.
Beverley, 35, has had a journeyman career, playing for multiple teams since the start of the 2020-21 season. In his time with the 76ers this season, he has averaged 6.3 points across 47 games. In exchange for Beverley, the 76ers received Cameron Payne and a 2027 second-round pick from the Bucks. Payne, 29, is known for his strong 3-point shooting, averaging 6.2 points and shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc. This trade adds another reliable 3-point shooter to the 76ers’ roster, addressing their need for better shooting.
In another move, the Bucks traded Robin Lopez to the Sacramento Kings. It is expected that Lopez will be waived by the Kings and become a free agent. As for the Celtics, they acquired Springer, a 21-year-old guard known for his strong defensive skills. Although he has struggled with his outside shot this season, hitting only 21.6% of his 3-pointers, the Celtics see potential in developing him as a valuable asset for the future.
The Celtics also made a minor move before the deadline, trading Dalano Banton to the Portland Trail Blazers for a heavily protected future second-round pick. Banton, 24, was signed as a free agent after playing for his hometown Toronto Raptors last summer. This trade allows the Celtics to keep a roster spot open, giving them flexibility to potentially add a player from the buyout market or help alleviate their luxury tax bill.
With these trades, the 76ers have opened up multiple roster spots, parting ways with Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, Danuel House, and Springer. This gives them three open roster spots to utilize in the buyout market and also helps them get under the luxury tax.
One potential buyout option for the 76ers is Philadelphia native and future Hall of Famer Kyle Lowry. Lowry was traded to the Charlotte Hornets by the Miami Heat last month in exchange for Terry Rozier. If Lowry is either waived or bought out by the Hornets after the deadline, he could be a valuable addition to the 76ers’ roster.
Overall, the trade deadline brought significant changes for the 76ers, Bucks, and Celtics. The Bucks strengthened their defense with the addition of Beverley, while the 76ers added another reliable 3-point shooter in Payne. The Celtics made moves to develop young talent and maintain roster flexibility. As the dust settles, it will be interesting to see how these trades impact the teams’ performances in the Eastern Conference.