Sixers Urged to Target Former Sixth Man of the Year via Trade

Getty Joel Embiid (left) of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.

Heading into training camp, the Philadelphia 76ers should feel good about where they are from a roster standpoint. Along with retaining James Harden on a team-friendly deal, Daryl Morey brought in multiple depth players without giving up much. With the additions of De’Anthony Melton, Danuel House Jr. and P.J. Tucker, the Sixers have an abundance of defense and shooting around their stars.

To add firepower to their second unit, though, the Sixers should try to acquire Jordan Clarkson from the Utah Jazz, according to Bryan Toporek of SB Nation’s Liberty Ballers.

“As the Jazz wait out the New York Knicks on a potential Donovan Mitchell blockbuster, their [Patrick] Beverley and Rudy Gobert trades signal that they’re otherwise open for a rebuild,” Toporek wrote in a story published August 26. “Mike Conley ($22.7 million), Bojan Bogdanovic ($19.6 million) and Malik Beasley ($15.6 million) are out of the Sixers’ realistic price range, but Jordan Clarkson ($13.3 million) and Rudy Gay ($6.2 million) are not. If the Sixers signed Hassan Whiteside, he could reprise the chemistry that he established with Clarkson last season in Utah.”

Clarkson, 30, has cemented himself as one of the league’s highest-powered guards in the league. In 79 games with the Jazz last season, he averaged 16 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game.

How Jordan Clarkson Would Fit on the Sixers

In 2021-22, lack of production off the bench was a weak point for the Sixers. The team was 28th in the league, ahead of only the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors. Bringing in a player like Clarkson, who won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2021, could be a remedy to that problem.

As a proven microwave scorer, Clarkson can be that scoring punch the Sixers need when Joel Embiid and James Harden are off the floor. Alongside De’Anthony Melton, he could be a go-to shot creator for Doc Rivers’ second unit.

The only thing that could deter a move like this from being worth it is playing time. Between Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Melton, the Sixers have guards that will need big minutes on a nightly basis. Bringing in Clarkson would be another upgrade but could lead to a logjam in the backcourt.

How the Sixers Could Trade for Clarkson

One reason a Sixers-Jazz trade for Clarkson seems feasible is his reasonable contract. He is owed $13.3 million this season and he has $14.2 million player option in 2023, making his cap hit rank 26th in the league.

With their newfound depth, the Sixers could afford to consolidate some assets in a trade. To make things work from a salary-matching standpoint, they could include Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, and another small contract like Shake Milton or Isaiah Joe.

For a team gearing toward a rebuild, this could entice the Utah Jazz. Korkmaz has shown flashes throughout his career, and Joe is a young prospect who could develop into a three-and-D guard. Not to mention Thybulle, who is a two-time All-Defense nominee. Utah could take a flier on these players to see if they can help them as they enter into the next phase of the franchise.