Donovan Mitchell is “unsettled and unnerved” by Quin Snyder’s resignation as coach of the Jazz, according to an ESPN report.
Stars Zach LaVine of the Bulls and the Wizards’ Bradley Beal can become free agents this summer.
Any of the three would be welcomed by 76ers’ fans in a trade (Mitchell) or sign-and-trade (LaVine or Beal) and qualify as another star that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey would like to add to Joel Embiid and James Harden, who has until June 29 to pick up his $47.4 million player option.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer item that versatile young Raptors forward OG Anunoby isn’t thrilled with how he’s being utilized on forward-heavy Toronto should have caught Morey’s attention.
Anunoby would be a huge upgrade for the Sixers as the starting wing. He’s a terrific defender capable of covering all five positions at a high level.
Anunoby was the sixth-most versatile defender among players that logged at least 1,000 minutes during the 2021-22 season, according to Basketball Index. He spent .369 of his time on the court facing guards, .477 matched up with forwards and .155 percent on centers.
Meanwhile, he averaged a career-high 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds during the regular season. And he doesn’t turn 25 until July 17.
Plus, the 6-foot-7 Anunoby, who has a wingspan of 7-2, is under contract for a relatively reasonable $17.4 million in 2022-23, followed by $18.6 million and then a $19.9 million player option in 2024-25.
The one potential concern would be Anunoby having missed 63 regular-season games over the past two seasons due to injuries.
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The problem is the Sixers don’t have the assets that would interest the Raptors if Toronto decides to consider dealing Anunoby. A package of defensive ace Matisse Thybulle and the No. 23 overall pick in the June 23 NBA Draft wouldn’t nearly be enough. Philadelphia role players Georges Niang, Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton have minimal trade value. Young big man Paul Reed would fit well on the athletic Raptors, but he’s still trying to develop his offensive skills and stay out of foul trouble at this level, in part because of his limited minutes.
Forward Tobias Harris’ $37.6 million salary next year would be difficult for the Raptors to match, even if Toronto adds big man Khem Birch and others. Plus, the Raptors already have plenty of long, athletic forwards. What they really need is a legitimate center.
Involving another team doesn’t seem to make sense if the Sixers don’t have quality players that would interest Toronto or the third club. They wouldn’t want to include emerging 21-year-old guard Tyrese Maxey.
Coming up with viable trade compensation for max-salary guys LaVine and Beal, if either becomes available, would also be an issue. Harris, Thybulle and the first-round pick wouldn’t get it done. Injured veteran Danny Green’s non-guaranteed $10 million contract for next season could benefit a team trying to trim its luxury-tax penalty in a draft-night trade, but he’s likely to miss all of 2022-23 after undergoing knee surgery.
The runner-up to Ben Simmons for Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, Mitchell has three more guaranteed years totaling $98 million, along with a $37.1 million player option for 2025-26.
LaVine and Beal, who could make more money re-signing with their respective teams, and Mitchell are more recognizable names than Anunoby with higher scoring averages. But Anunoby would provide more to the Sixers than any of them, in addition to being a terrific fit.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
