NBA trade deadline: Ranking Sixers' 14 best bargaining chips - NJ.com

Often the trade deadline is much adieu about nothing. Rumors run rampant, speculation insists it's about to be "wild," and often that never comes to fruition. 

Every discussion and trade talk this time of the year is leaked, and it's usually a negotiation tactic.

Rarely does a major trade discussion skirt by without a leak. 

Monday, the Clippers dropped a bombshell on the league when they, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, struck a deal sending star forward Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons just seven months after he signed a large, long extension to stay with the Clippers. This came seemingly out of nowhere, even if the negotiations (reportedly) started a week ago. 

The trade sent ripples through the league, and pushed playoff contending teams into the spotlight. If it's not trade deadline season yet, it's at least will-they-or-won't-they season.

The Sixers are one of the league's most mysterious cases, as few know exactly how Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo will approach this trade deadline.

Will the Sixers go all in on this season's playoff run and try to make a major trade? Will they make a minor deal to augment the team's wing rotation and bench? Can he find someone to take on Jerryd Bayless' contract?

The wind seems to be blowing in the direction of an uneventful trade deadline in Philadelphia, as the Sixers would prefer maintain cap flexibility with the belief being that they'll make an effort to sign (or trade for) a significant piece this summer or next. 

In the event Colangelo does decide to explore making a move, or moves, who is available to trade?

Go right ahead and eliminate All-Star Joel Embiid and rookie Ben Simmons from the discussion. Obviously.

Robert Covington can't be traded until after the season due to his recently signed contract extension, and he wouldn't be anyway. 

JJ Redick might make sense as a chip if the Sixers weren't in the playoff race, but they are, and even on a 1-year deal, he's vital to any success this team will have. He's staying, and his $23 million salary would be difficult to match anyway. 

In reality, the Sixers are highly unlikely to trade any truly valuable piece in the coming weeks. For the sake of this exercise, though, I wanted to explore who would have the best trade value if the Sixers were looking to make a major deal before the deadline on Feb. 8

(I can't emphasize this enough — just because I'm listing someone like TJ McConnell, doesn't mean I think the Sixers should trade McConnell (obviously I don't. I'm not insane), just that if they were to consider it, this is where I think he might be valued.)

The Sixers are unable to trade the 2018 Lakers pick until after the NBA Draft lottery, when Philadelphia finds out if it conveys to the Celtics or they get to keep it.

I included the Sixers' own 2018 first-rounder but kept out second-round picks, and I didn't look beyond the 2018 draft in general. 

With that, here's a ranking of the Sixers' 14 best trade chips heading into the Feb. 8 deadline. 

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