1. Brotherly love
The Philadelphia 76ers could use an extra punch off their bench and someone who could help space the floor. Rose showed that ability in Minnesota, shooting 37% from 3-point range last season. But he’s thriving as a point guard and could help there, too.
Rose could come in and lead a bench unit with veterans Mike Scott and Kyle O’Quinn. He’d fit well overlapping with starters such as Al Horford and Joel Embiid in a pick-and-roll/pop action, clearing space for shooters due to Rose’s speed.
It would also give the Sixers are more veteran presence with only Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton being younger than 25. Rose’s experience alongside Korkmaz and Thybulle on the wings will create a better playing experience for them.
It also would boost a bench that is tied for fourth-worst in the league in scoring with 28.8 bench points per game.
A credit to this trade proposal, initially from The Sixer Sense, that would send prized wing Zhaire Smith to the Motor City.
Smith, 20, was selected 16th overall by the Sixers in 2018 but has only appeared in six NBA games – all last season. He’s spent all of this season in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats. He’s averaging 13.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game with shooting splits of .507/.314/.778.
With the Sixers signing Horford and bringing back former Piston Tobias Harris, Jonah Bolden has been relegated to the G League. He played in 44 games, starting 10, as a rookie last season. He was the 36th overall pick out of UCLA in 2017. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward has been productive, averaging 11.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game with shooting splits of .509/.362/.640 in 14 games with the Blue Coats.
Former Michigan Wolverine Trey Burke has been an above-average rotational player over the past three seasons, but it’s also been for three different teams. He would be able to fill the role Rose would be vacating as the backup point guard. He could even start until Jackson or Frazier get back, but the Pistons may want to keep the continuity they’re developing among their young wings.