The NBA trade deadline is three days away, and the Sixers could face a big decision regarding the future of their franchise. This time of year, trade rumors are heaved like end-of-quarter 70-footers. As we approach this deadline, several of them are scenarios involving Bucks megastar Giannis Ante tokounmpo. There aren’t many teams who can even entertain a deal to acquire the 2-time league MVP. Many don’t have the combination of young talent, salary, and draft capital Milwaukee would want to level a trade of this magnitude. The Sixers happen to be able to foot the bill, but they shouldn’t try. Giannis is a singular talent. A perennial All-Star and MVP short-lister. He’s also crazy expensive, commanding $58.5 million next season, with a player option for 2027-28 worth $62.8 million. Its difficult enough to fill out a roster with three players commanding $145 million. Acquiring Antetokounmpo would require the Sixers to move on from Joel Embiid or Paul George. But not just Embiid or George. The Sixers would have to include more salary. To give up their franchise player, Milwaukee will probably ask for young talent. By young talent, they mean rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, or second-year man Jared McCain. In addition, the Bucks will likely ask for a minimum of three, even four first-round draft picks or pick swaps. Giannis is blessed with an amazing amount of natural ability. What he most likely won’t bring to his new team is availability. He is currently sidelined with a self-diagnosed calf injury. This season will be the sixth of his last seven where he will miss at least 15 regular season games. Having Giannis on your team will make it better, but how much better? Since the Bucks won the NBA title in 2021, they’ve won exactly one playoff series since. Let’s not forget the fact that he is actively requesting to be traded. What happens if he becomes a Sixer, then he doesn’t love it in Philadelphia? He’s likely to force another trade right out again, a year or two older, with less value than you gave up for him, and likely less interest. Sixers fans lived through this already with James Harden. Did we forget so quickly? This move would a nuclear option for a team who truly believes it is one player away from title contention, and one that screams “To Hell with the future.” The Sixers are not currently one player away. They already are short on roster depth, something a trade would only worsen. And this move would send away much of its future in actual talent, and draft capital. If the Bucks are actually selling, maybe Daryl Morey can attack on the margins, perhaps making a move for frontcourt help, like Bobby Portis. He could certainly help the Sixers in the rebounding department, and comes relatively inexpensively at $13.4 million. Would the Sixers try reserves Andre Drummond and Quentin Grimes for Portis? ...read more read less