The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to become sellers before the annual trade deadline with reports saying that trading Evan Turner is their top priority.
Sporting News reported on Monday that the 76ers have been stepping up their efforts in finding a trade partner before the deadline. According to the report, the Sixers are putting Turner in front of every trade discussions in hopes of finding a taker for the 25-year-old small forward.
Sources said that Philadelphia has been asking for a first-round pick in the highly-anticipated 2014 NBA Draft, but reports also indicated that they are willing to accept a future first-rounder, an asset that could play a major role as they continue to rebuild in the next few seasons.
However, one league executive said that the 76ers are asking for too much in exchange for Turner, considering the fact that teams could just wait for him to become a free agent probably this summer. Turner could become an unrestricted free agent if the 76ers decide not to put a qualifying offer on the table.
"It wouldn't be smart to give up assets for a player you think you can just sign on your own in July," one rival general manager was quoted as saying. "If you don't need to trade anything away to get him, then why would you?"
But while some teams appear unwilling to give up assets for Turner, teams who are looking to make a playoff push this year are reportedly interested in acquiring the fourth-year forward for picks and additional assets.
Reports indicated that Oklahoma City Thunder could revisit their previous talks with the 76ers and offer a package involving the top-20 protected first-round pick of the Dallas Mavericks in this year's draft.
The Phoenix Suns could also enter the bidding war for Turner because they have a boatload of picks in the next few years, including four potential first-round picks in June's rookie selection.
"The Thunder, who will own Dallas' draft pick this year if it is outside of the Top 20, expressed interest in Turner earlier in the year. A source said, too, that Phoenix-which potentially has four first-round picks in the 2014 draft and would be willing to part with at least one-discussed Turner with the Sixers, but nothing solid resulted," Sporting News noted.
Turner, who is averaging a career-best 18.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season, is expected to draw significant interest from other teams as the February 20 trade deadline nears.
