Branham is a solid young scorer for the Spurs. Last season he averaged 9.2 points a night for San Antonio while shooting 43.2% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc. This year his scoring is down to only 5.5 points a night, but his efficiency has increased, most notably from three where he […]
Branham is a solid young scorer for the Spurs. Last season he averaged 9.2 points a night for San Antonio while shooting 43.2% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc. This year his scoring is down to only 5.5 points a night, but his efficiency has increased, most notably from three where he is draining 38.3% of his shots. However his defense has not improved, thus leaving him further down the rotation.
Over Whitmore’s last 10 games he has really stepped up his game, averaging 12.4 points in just 18.7 minutes a night. He has also shown significant growth from deep, shooting 40.9% from deep in the same span. With his contract only paying 4 million this season, he may just be the best realistic option for the Sixers to trade for at the deadline.
Now, in his third season, Baldwin has only appeared in 16 games for the Wizards so far, shooting 7/13 from beyond the arc in his limited (66 minutes) playing time. While he is still only 22 years old, Baldwin Jr. is definitely someone who will need more time developing. If the Sixers believe that they can develop the talent over the course of the season, as they have with other young players in the past couple of years with Nick Nurse, Baldwin Jr. might be someone they should take a chance on. If Nurse and the Sixers can get him comfortable within the offense over the course of the season, he could prove to be a valuable asset come playoff time or next season.
Sixers Trade Targets
Malaki Branham
On top of that, franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid has only appeared in 13 games so far, and breakout star Jared McCain is out indefinitely with a torn meniscus. With players like K.J. Martin, Caleb Martin, and Kelly Oubre Jr. proving how important they are with each passing game, the Sixers will likely be forced to focus on cheaper players who can make an impact for their team. This means that they will have to turn their heads to players on rookie deals, or on veteran players on underwhelming teams. It is clear that the 76ers need to find ways to improve and with the trade deadline less than a month away, trades may be the best path forward for the Sixers to go.
Drafted late in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, the 6-foot-9 forward was hoped to develop into a stretch power forward capable of spreading the floor. Last year, after just one year with the Warriors, he was traded to Washington alongside Jordan Poole and, in 13.0 minutes a night, shot 38.1% from the field and 32.0% from three.
The Sixers, who are currently 26 in points per game, could choose to overlook that and develop Branham into a microwave scorer off the bench, especially if his three point improvement sticks around. With a 3.2 million dollar cap hit and a diminishing role, the Sixers may be able to get a deal done for the former Ohio State Buckeye.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. is not a proven commodity in the slightest and that may deter the Sixers from trading for him. On the other hand, his potential as a solid rotation forward could make him worth it. With just 85 games played in his three year career the former UW-Milwaukee product has yet to make a major impact.
Patrick Baldwin Jr
Malaki Branham was the 20 pick in the 2022 NBA draft for the San Antonio Spurs. He was looked at as someone who could potentially breakout this season with Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama as the Spurs shifted from their rebuilding phase.
Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
This has not been the case for Branham so far through the season. He is only playing 11.5 minutes a night for the now playoff contending Spurs, a far cry from the 20+ minutes he was receiving his previous two seasons with the team. At only 21 years old, Branham is an intriguing prospect that the Sixers could take a chance on if they can buy low.
Cam Whitmore
Whitmore may want more playing time than he is getting in Houston. A recent post on X, formerly twitter, had 18,000 likes highlight Whitmore’s attitude during the Rockets win over the Washington Wizards. Whether or not that is true, Whitmore would almost certainly be a mainstay in the rotation for the Sixers as either a starter or he sixth man, especially considering the injuries the team has been faced with.
Cam Whitmore was pick 20 in the 2023 NBA draft and had a solid rookie year for the Rockets. He is a young, energetic forward with a lot of potential. Appearing in 47 games last season, he averaged 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in just over 20 minutes a night. He also shot well last season, shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc. This season however, Whitmore has yet to find his place in the Rockets rotation. Currently Whitmore is only averaging 9.5 points a night in less than 15 minutes a night and has only appeared in 18 games so far.
Jan 9, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (7) handles the ball as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Sixers are looking much improved since the start of their season, winning 6 of their last 10 games, but the team still is not operaing like the contender Philadelphia wants to be. Paul George, in large part due to injuries, has not looked quite like himself this season, averaging 16.2 points per night while shooting 41.2% from the field.