The Philadelphia 76ers are at a breaking point, teetering on the edge of irrelevance in a season that was supposed to rival the Eastern Conference’s elite. Instead, the Sixers sit at 11th in the standings with a dismal 15-16 record, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering how a team led by Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey could falter so dramatically. But rather than throw in the towel, insiders reveal the Sixers’ front office may be planning a seismic move to spark a turnaround: trading for Indiana Pacers rising star Bennedict Mathurin.
Desperation or genius? Why the 76ers are eyeing Mathurin
Philadelphia entered the 2024-25 NBA season with championship aspirations. Instead, injuries and inconsistency have plagued their Big Three, and the Sixers have sunk to near-bottom of the league in scoring, ranking 27th in points per game. With the clock ticking and the trade deadline looming, reports suggest the Sixers are targeting Mathurin, a third-year guard averaging 16.5 points on efficient shooting, to inject life into their struggling offense.
Mathurin’s skill set as a dependable scorer with a knack for clutch shooting aligns perfectly with the Sixers’ urgent need. Additionally, his manageable contract—worth just $29.9 million over four years—offers the flexibility Philadelphia desperately needs to avoid mortgaging its future entirely.
Will Indiana let Mathurin go?
While Mathurin would be a dream acquisition for Philadelphia, prying him away from the Pacers is far from straightforward. Indiana, like the Sixers, has underwhelmed this season and is unlikely to part with one of its cornerstone players without a hefty return. To make this trade a reality, the Sixers may need to package a combination of young assets, draft picks, and potentially a key rotation player—moves that could jeopardize their long-term rebuild if Mathurin doesn’t live up to the hype.
Is this the right move for Philadelphia?
Trading for Mathurin would send a clear signal: the 76ers are still all-in on chasing a title this season. But at what cost? With a roster plagued by injuries and chemistry issues, it’s fair to question whether even a player of Mathurin’s caliber could lift the team out of its slump. Should the front office consider a reset instead, leveraging this disappointing year to build a more durable contender around Embiid and Maxey?
A gamble worth taking?
Philadelphia’s pursuit of Mathurin underscores the high-stakes nature of their season. The Sixers’ brass must decide if pushing their chips in for a midseason savior is worth the gamble. One thing is clear: failure to make the playoffs would mark a catastrophic blow for a franchise that started the year with such lofty expectations.