Jan. 29, 2026, 1:27 p.m. ET
With the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching quickly, there will be different rumors and opinions about what the Philadelphia 76ers should do or shouldn’t do. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has never been shy to pull the trigger on a deal and he has made at least one trade at each deadline he’s been in Philadelphia since 2020. So, odds are that he will make something happen.
Does this mean the Sixers will make the big swing at Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo? Probably not. It would be a bit foolish to give up a young blue chip prospect such as VJ Edgecombe who has been better than advertised for Morey and Co. after being selected as the No. 3 overall pick. Especially, with Antetokounmpo also dealing with a right calf strain at the moment as well.
With the Sixers having a better than expected first half thus far, here are four options for Morey and Co. to consider at the deadline:
1. Keon Ellis
A popular trade candidate, Ellis would make a ton of sense for a playoff team like the Sixers that has a chance at contending in the wide-open East rather than toiling for the struggling Sacramento Kings. He is a terrific 3-and-D option who brings a lot of athleticism and the Sixers wouldn’t have to give up any of their main pieces for a guy like him. Ellis can bring a lot to a team like Philadelphia and one has to wonder if Kings GM Scott Perry will be open to dealing him at the deadline. He shoots 36% from deep as well as 1.1 steals off the bench for Sacramento.
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Sort of a fun option, Bey makes sense for Philadelphia as a power forward option. He shoots 34.3% from deep for New Orleans and averages 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals while starting 34 of the 42 games. The Sixers, of course, have guys like Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Kelly Oubre Jr. to fill in at the 4-spot, and it might be smart to just rock with those options, but Bey is a physical player at 6-foot-8 and is a Villanova product. He shot 38.9% from deep in his only venture into the playoffs with the Atlanta Hawks in 2023.
3. Brice Sensabaugh
This would depend on how the Jazz view Sensabaugh, but he has been very good for Utah recently. He’s averaging 12.0 points on the season and shooting 33.5% from deep. That number is a little below his career norm of 37.4% as a 3-point shooter, but one has to wonder if he can provide even more spacing around Joel Embiid and Paul George and take advantage of the open looks he will receive in a coach Nick Nurse-style offense. He plays hard on a nightly basis and he would make a difference on a contender like Philadelphia rather than a rebuilding team in Utah. It is worth mentioning, though, that it would depend on whether the Jazz view him as a foundational piece or as a piece to add more for the future.
4. Stay the course
The Sixers are a team that can beat anybody in the East. The star trio of Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey has continued to grow in chemistry and they fit each other well. Embiid’s recovery from his April surgery has been phenomenal and he has given Philadelphia the superstar play it needs to become serious contenders in the East. George has been an elite defender and has started knocking down 3s at a high rate. Maxey has clearly taken the next step in his development as well. Throw in guys like Oubre, Edgecombe, Barlow, and Quentin Grimes, and the Sixers will have as good a chance as anybody when the playoffs roll around. It might be worth it for Morey and the front office to stay the course and see what this current group can do.