In a surprising turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers have traded veteran guard Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies while simultaneously signing Dominick Barlow to a standard NBA contract. This move comes just one day after the team dealt second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder, making it clear that the Sixers are actively reshuffling their roster ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. But here’s where it gets controversial: fans and analysts alike were anticipating a more impactful trade that could enhance the team's championship aspirations.
The deal that transpired involved the 37-year-old Gordon, who has struggled with his performance this season, participating in only six games and averaging a modest 5.5 points per game. He has been with the Sixers for the last two years of his extensive 18-year NBA career. In return for Gordon, the Sixers received a second-round pick swap for the 2032 NBA draft along with the draft rights to Justinian Jessup. Jessup was selected as the 51st overall pick during the 2020 NBA draft but has yet to make the jump to the NBA, currently playing for Bayern Munich in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga.
In addition to the trade, the Sixers officially signed forward Dominick Barlow to a standard NBA contract before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Barlow, who had previously been on a two-way contract, has shown his value by starting in 33 out of 40 games this season, where he has averaged 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. Recently, he delivered a standout performance with a double-double, scoring a career-high 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Moreover, the 76ers made further adjustments to their roster by signing two players to 10-day contracts: center Charles Bassey and forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. Notably, this marks Bassey’s second 10-day deal with the team, having initially signed on January 26. Bassey was the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. On the other hand, Baldwin was performing impressively with the San Diego Clippers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, where he averaged an impressive 21.6 points while shooting 53.2% from the field.
As the trade deadline looms, how do you feel about these recent moves? Are the 76ers heading in the right direction, or should they have aimed for a bigger splash to boost their playoff chances? Let us know your thoughts!
