Sixers said to be shopping at least one of their second-round picks
The team will not have room to add five rookies and quality free agents.
The thought around the NBA is that the 76ers are set on trading at least one of their second-round picks in the draft to alleviate a possible roster crunch, according to multiple league executives.
"They're trying to sell one of the second-rounders," said an executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Another said: "Their last two second-rounders are in play [for possible trades]. The word is out there."
In addition to having the third overall pick, the Sixers have four second-rounders - Nos. 36, 39, 46, and 50 - in the draft June 22.
It's not surprising that the Sixers want to trade picks. As one executive pointed out, they won't have room on their roster to take in five rookies and add quality free agents.
To help create room, the team is also considering using a second-round pick on a player who would play overseas for at least a season before joining the Sixers.
That what Dario Saric did after the Sixers acquired him in a trade during the 2014 draft. The power forward played the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Super League. He joined the Sixers before the start of last season.
NBA rosters will expand from 15 to 17 players this season under the new collective bargaining agreement. The 16th and 17th roster spots will be two-way contracts. Two-way players will go back and forth from the NBA to the G-League, formerly the NBA Development League.
Still, it's going to be tight.
Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Saric, Timothe Luwawu-Carrabot, Jerryd Bayless, Jahlil Okafor, Justin Anderson, and Nik Stauskas all have guaranteed contracts. T.J. McConnell, Richaun Holmes, and Shawn Long have non-guaranteed deals. The Sixers have a team option on Robert Covington, whom they are expected to sign to a new deal or an extension.
Gerald Henderson has a partially guaranteed deal. The shooting guard will make $9 million by remaining on the roster past June 30. If he does not, he will walk away with $1 million.
Assuming he stays, the team will have 13 roster spots accounted for. That doesn't factor in Alex Poythress, who is set to become a restricted free agent. The power forward, who is working out with the Sixers, could become a candidate for a two-way deal.
Also, Furkan Korkmaz could join the squad. Korkmaz, who was drafted last summer, is stashed overseas with Efes. His goal is to get out of his European contract and play for the Sixers next season.
If that happens, the team would have 13 to 15 players on roster, depending on what they do with Henderson and Poythress. The Sixers could also trade another player for future considerations or waive someone else.
Right now, they don't have room to a sign a first-round pick, four second-rounders, and multiple free agents. That's the reason they plan to trade a second-rounder or two for cash or future considerations and/or stash a pick.
@PompeyOnSixers