76ers have to accept a brutal trade deadline that fans don’t want

With most trading restrictions just lifted, the trading season has officially begun. For teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, who still have glaring holes in their rosters, this means they now have a real opportunity to perhaps make some changes — whether marginal or drastic — to climb the standings and raise their ceiling in the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the 76ers, the front office will have to settle for changes around the edges at most. Their salary books are not very receptive to those who do a large tradewhich is sure to make some fans groan. After all, despite a solid start to the season, the general sentiment is that Philly is nowhere near a bona fide championship contender as currently constructed.

Two names, Joel Embiid and Paul George, represent the only way for the 76ers to make it big on the trade market. However, with the way the market is developing, it is simply impossible to make a trade offer involving those guys who could lure teams into true submission. For better or for worse, this team will have to sit out most of the trade season.

The 76ers have no choice but to keep beating during trade season

To be clear, the 76ers aren’t necessarily completely devoid of players who could prove attractive to other teams. Veteran products like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond are sure to draw significant interest from teams around the league.

However, these players have become so important to the team that there is little point in parting with them. That’s even more true considering they have expiring deals anyway, and even if they are offered, teams won’t pay much for such rental pieces.

That dynamic, in addition to their top-heavy payroll, makes the 76ers one of the teams more likely to sit on the sidelines ahead of the trade deadline while the teams make trades.

Frankly, it’s hard to see the 76ers getting into true title contention this season, especially since injuries haunt them more than most teams in the league. As such, the franchise will be forced to rely on internal development and revivals to rev the engine rather than tapping external help to get them out of certain troubles.