A rough start to the year in Washington could put Khris Middleton on the 76ers’ radar, but only if Philadelphia decides to shop in the right lane.
After a massive summer, the 76ers are not expected to live in the blockbuster trade rumor market. With Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe now in the mix, Philadelphia may only need a bench piece depending on how the first half of the 2026-27 season unfolds.
That makes the Wizards one of the more logical places to look for help - though not every name there should interest the Sixers.
Anthony Davis is the one to avoid. He remains the kind of headline-grabbing possibility that can dominate rumor cycles, especially with no extension in place and his future in Washington still unsettled.
The Wizards would rather not move him so soon after acquiring him, but if they stumble out of the gate, there’s a belief that Davis could eventually force the issue. Even so, Philadelphia should stay away.
The Sixers already have enough risk tied up in Joel Embiid’s contract, and adding another injury-prone star on a longer commitment would only tighten the screws further. LeBron James wanting Davis wouldn’t change that calculus.
Middleton is the more practical name, and the more interesting one.
The 35-year-old is the kind of veteran frontcourt piece contenders can use: a steady shooter, a respected voice in the room, and a former champion who has seen just about everything. He’s been in the league since 2012, played in more than 800 regular-season games, and taken part in nine playoff runs.
His career line says plenty about the value he can still bring: 16.1 points per game, 38.5% from three, 3.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds. In the postseason, he has bumped those numbers to 20.6 points, 39.0% from deep, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
There are still moving parts on Philadelphia’s side. The assumption here is that rookie Labaron Philon may not be ready for regular minutes, which would leave Anfernee Simons handling backup point guard duties more often and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope backing up VJ Edgecombe. That’s part of why Middleton stands out as a fit deeper into the season.
The timing matters too. Middleton cannot be traded until December 15, and his availability may depend on where the Wizards stand by then.
If Washington starts looking more toward younger pieces, the Sixers have a few names they could put into the mix. Justin Edwards could be one of them, especially alongside one of Philadelphia’s young bigs, Adem Bona or Ariel Hukporti.
Dominick Barlow is another possible piece, particularly since he is currently buried behind LeBron James and Dean Wade.
Any Middleton deal would also bring longer-term baggage. He signed a sign-and-trade this summer for a three-year, $17.6 million contract.
He’ll make $5.5 million this season, with his salary climbing to as much as $6.1 million in 2028-29. Still, the deal is only lightly guaranteed after year one, with just $908K guaranteed next season before June 28.
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