The NBA’s unofficial trade season is officially underway. December 15 marks the date when most players signed during the offseason become eligible to be moved - and that opens the door for front offices around the league to start making real calls, not just hypothetical ones.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, that means four names just hit the trade-eligible list: Trendon Watford, Justin Edwards, Kyle Lowry, and Eric Gordon. Up until now, none of them could be moved due to league rules surrounding recently signed contracts. As of today, they’re all fair game.
Now, let’s be clear - eligibility doesn’t mean a deal is imminent. December 15 trades do happen, but they’re more of a spark than a fire.
Think of it as the league warming up the stove, not throwing anything in the frying pan just yet. That said, this is the point in the season when conversations start to shift from “what if” to “what can we actually do?”
Each of the newly eligible Sixers brings something a little different to the table. Kyle Lowry, the veteran guard with championship pedigree, could be a valuable piece for a contender looking for leadership and playoff experience.
Eric Gordon, still a capable shooter and savvy scorer, fits the mold of a bench spark plug. Watford and Edwards are more developmental pieces, but in the right deal, they could be intriguing sweeteners.
The one Sixer still off-limits in trade talks? Quentin Grimes.
He’s not eligible to be moved until next month, and even then, he holds a no-trade clause for the season - giving him full control over any potential move. That adds a layer of complexity if the Sixers want to get creative with roster reshuffling.
So while nothing may happen today, the landscape just changed. The Sixers - and the rest of the league - now have more pieces to play with. Let the games behind the games begin.